Acceptance and Rejection of Pets and Parasocial Others Cause Corresponding Changes in the Self's Perceived Relational Value

Abstract

Four studies tested whether a person's perceived relational value is influenced by other people's evaluations of his or her auxiliary companions (e.g., pets, favorite TV shows). Participants were exposed to their favorite media (Studies 1 and 2) or pets (Studies 3 and 4) being socially accepted, rejected, or neither. Participants' state self-esteem and satisfaction of basic needs (e.g., belonging, control) were measured before and after the manipulation to determine if social evaluations of their favorite media and pets changed their own relational value. The results revealed that participants' perceived relational value was influenced by social evaluations of their auxiliary companions, although positive changes (e.g., enhanced self-esteem) were found more reliably than negative changes. Inclusion of the pet or media entity in the self did not moderate the results. In conclusion, nonreciprocated (i.e., parasocial) and nonhuman relationships are meaningful and potent enough to influence one's feeling of social worth.

Keywords::

• Parasocial relationships
• Pets
• Self-esteem
• Relational value
• Belonging
• Social rejection