Is Fandom Good for You? The Cyberpsychology of Stans, Ships and Parasocial Love

Is fandom good for your mental health—or quietly wrecking it? We are joined by researcher Derek Laffan to discuss his research on K-pop, the positives and negatives of fandom communities. Join us and dive into Cyberpsychology of stans, ships, and parasocial love: K‑pop, influencers and parasocial relationships, parasocial grief, and shipping conspiracies.

Resources

Positive Psychosocial Outcomes and Fanship in K-Pop Fans: A Social Identity Theory Perspective - Laffan et al. (2021).

Effects of Online Fan Community Interactions on Well-Being and Sense of Virtual Community - Kim et al. (2023).

The role of cyberbullying victimization in the relationship between psychological sense of community and well‑being among BTS fans. - Laffan et al. (2023)