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Discussion Questions:

1. What major perspective and type of research do you think the authors of this research article would connect themselves to? What evidence can you provide to validate your response?
   
2. How does this article connect to Duck & McMahon’s argument that all communication is relational?
   
3. Do you believe parasocial relationships (i.e., imagined friendships with celebrities) are positive, negative, or something else? Why? Did this article change your opinion on the nature of parasocial relationships and the people who have them?
   
4. How might you study parasocial relationships? What kinds of hypotheses and questions would you develop about the connection between the media and personal relationships?
   
5. What are some implications of this study in terms of rhetoric and persuasive communication research? What aspects of parasocial relationships might be of interest to scholars of these topics?