Question: How do people identify with fictional characters?

Sam Carr answered on 12 Jun 2017:

I think people can “see” and “find” things in fictional characters that they really value, admire, or need in their lives. It can feel quite satisfying and psychologically fulfilling to “connect” with a character in a book, movie, or TV show. Psychologists call it “parasocialization” when we feel as though we’re relating to characters and people that we never actually meet – it’s “unreal” socialization but it FEELS really real.

As an example, I really identify with Dumbledore in the Harry Potter movies and books. I think I identify with him because he’s a real father-figure and sort of looks after and protects the school and its people. I think if I psychoanalyzed myself (which has happened a lot in my life) I’d realize that I’m always drawn to father-figures because I never really had one but desperately wanted one. So, perhaps it’s not surprising that a part of me really “notices” and is drawn to strong protective, father-figures in books and movies – I never had one and I desperately wanted one.

I think most people, when they look deeply enough, have deeper reasons for really identifying with fictional characters – but it can take a lot of self-exploration to really understand what that is for each of us.