Content area
Abstract
This dissertation explores how parasocial relationships with celebrities influence political trust and policy support among racially and ethnically marginalized communities in the United States. As trust in traditional institutions declines, particularly among Black and Latinx Americans, celebrities are increasingly positioned as alternative messengers in the political landscape. Across three empirical studies, the dissertation investigates how emotional attachments to public figures shape political attitudes, with attention to messenger identity, group-based solidarity, and affective trust.
Chapter 1 uses nationally representative survey data to examine the relationship between parasocial bonds and trust in political news. The findings indicate that parasocial relationships, especially among Black and Latinx respondents, are associated with lower trust in legacy media and greater reliance on celebrity figures as interpreters of political information. Chapter 2 presents a survey experiment comparing the persuasive impact of Black celebrities (Beyonce, LeBron James), political ´ elites (Kamala Harris), and institutional actors (the Democratic National Committee) on support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. Results show that parasocial attachments and linked fate significantly shape receptivity to policy messages, with Kamala Harris generating especially strong responses among those with high affective or group-based alignment. Chapter 3 extends this framework to Latinx respondents through a topic sampling experiment. Participants are randomly assigned to issue vignettes on voting access, protest rights, or food safety, endorsed by either a Latinx celebrity (Bad Bunny), a co-ethnic political elite (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), or a neutral messenger. The study examines how parasocial bonds, linked fate, and partisanship interact with messenger type across policy contexts.
Together, these chapters show that parasocial trust with culturally resonant figures plays a significant role in shaping political attitudes and responses to policy communication. The findings offer new insight into symbolic representation, racialized political behavior, and the emotional dimensions of persuasion in a fragmented media environment.
Details
