Parasocial relationships are a defining feature of modern media consumption.

My TEDx talk gives audiences a framework for examining the one-sided emotional bonds with public figures, celebrities, and fictional characters.

Spoiler alert: I argue that these relationships aren't inherently unhealthy, as long as we engage with them deliberately.

In the end, how we relate to stories and characters says a great deal about how we relate to each other and the world around us.