ABSTRACT
This chapter examines Parasocial relationship interaction (PSRI) as an extended form of face-to-face interpersonal communication with respect to PSRI's capacity to manage the terror of death awareness. It reviews terror management theory, death-thought accessibilites (DTA's) elicitation of relationship striving, and the interpersonal functions of PSRI. PSRI is the imaginary application of interpersonal relationship considerations to liked mediated others. Despite early theorizing that PSRI is a compensatory response to chronic loneliness and inadequate social skills, empirical researchers have found that PSRI complements normal social interaction. Mikulincer explanation for relationship striving's amelioration of DTA is initially founded on the assumption of humanity's inherent need to belong. Maslow ranked belongingness as more important than self-esteem or self-actualization. The psychological need to belong, physical need for society, pleasure of self-esteem, and cultural functions of close relationships explain why DTA elicits relationship strivings.
