The Influence of Narrative Point of View in Fanfiction on Character Identification and Parasocial Romantic Attraction

This study examines how narrative point of view influences character identification and parasocial romantic feelings in fan fiction. In order to conduct this research, an experiment was conducted in which participants read fan fiction about their chosen media figure (celebrity or fictional character) written in one of three perspectives: first-person self-insert, third-person self-insert, or third-person original character. Participants then responded to a series of questions regarding identification and physical and emotional parasocial romantic attraction. Following statistical analysis of the survey data, the study yielded results that indicate that there are stronger levels of identification and physical parasocial romantic attraction when reading first-person self-insert fan fiction compared to the third-person alternatives. These findings contribute to our understanding of how narrative perspective influences parasocial relationships in fan communities and suggest that first-person narratives may be particularly effective at fostering higher levels of identification and physical parasocial attraction.