A developmental psychologist investigated whether childhood attachment patterns are linked to the strength of parasocial relationships with artificial intelligence (AI) virtual companions in young adulthood. A sample of 450 young adults completed a retrospective attachment questionnaire to classify them as Secure, Insecure-Avoidant, or Insecure-Resistant. They also completed the Virtual Parasocial Affiliation Scale (VPAS) to measure the intensity of their emotional bond with their favourite AI companion (scores ranging from 0 to 80, with higher scores representing a more intense parasocial bond).
The mean VPAS scores for each attachment classification group are shown in the table below:
| Childhood Attachment Classification | Mean Virtual Parasocial Affiliation Scale (VPAS) Score |
|---|---|
| Insecure-Resistant | 68.3 |
| Secure | 32.1 |
| Insecure-Avoidant | 18.4 |
Discuss the attachment theory explanation of parasocial relationships. Refer to the study described above in your response.
Practise AQA A Level Psychology Parasocial relationships with exam-style questions for A Level Psychology. 16 questions, matched to the AQA A Level Psychology (7182) specification and written in Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.
