Binging on Gilmore Girls: a parasocial exploration of fans' viewing behaviors

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dc.contributorPanek, Elliot T.
dc.contributorWarner, Kristen J.
dc.contributorParrott, Scott
dc.contributor.advisorBillings, Andrew C.
dc.contributor.authorDyche, Caitlin Samantha
dc.contributor.otherUniversity of Alabama Tuscaloosa
dc.date.accessioned2017-07-28T14:12:01Z
dc.date.available2017-07-28T14:12:01Z
dc.date.issued2017
dc.descriptionElectronic Thesis or Dissertationen_US
dc.description.abstractBinge-watching has become increasingly popular with the rise of video-on-demand services and online streaming sites, but little has been done to evaluate the effects of this new viewing behavior on audiences. This study explores binge-watching as a possible mechanism in the formation of parasocial relationships with media personae as well as a motivator for the negative affects experienced when a persona is no longer included in new content, the phenomenon known as parasocial breakup. Other variables, such as the extent to which the media is watched alone or with others, were also explored. To test these relationships, two online surveys were completed by fans of the television show Gilmore Girls, one before the release of a new Gilmore Girls mini-series on Netflix and one after the release. A total of 387 fans participated in the surveys, which assessed their viewing behaviors of the mini-series and already-released episodes in the time leading up to the mini-series’ premiere. In the post-watching sample, it was found that binge-watching the mini-series was negatively related to parasocial relationship intensity. Furthermore, parasocial relationship intensity was positively related to parasocial breakup distress. Other predictors of parasocial relationship intensity include show affinity and age of viewer, while mini-series enjoyment was found to have a strong, negative correlation to parasocial breakup distress. Findings suggest further research regarding the relationship between binge-watching and parasocial relationships, as well as the influence that discussing the show with others has on breakup distress.en_US
dc.format.extent101 p.
dc.format.mediumelectronic
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.otheru0015_0000001_0002592
dc.identifier.otherDyche_alatus_0004M_13042
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir.ua.edu/handle/123456789/3189
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of Alabama Libraries
dc.relation.hasversionborn digital
dc.relation.ispartofThe University of Alabama Electronic Theses and Dissertations
dc.relation.ispartofThe University of Alabama Libraries Digital Collections
dc.rightsAll rights reserved by the author unless otherwise indicated.en_US
dc.subjectCommunication
dc.titleBinging on Gilmore Girls: a parasocial exploration of fans' viewing behaviorsen_US
dc.typethesis
dc.typetext
etdms.degree.departmentUniversity of Alabama. Department of Telecommunication and Film
etdms.degree.disciplineTelecommunication and Film
etdms.degree.grantorThe University of Alabama
etdms.degree.levelmaster's
etdms.degree.nameM.A.

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