The Four-Phase Lifecycle of Disillusionment: From Formation to Fragmentation

Present the paper's lifecycle model: Formation, Peak Persuasive Flow, Crisis and Contradiction, Fragmentation and Disillusionment. Offer practical takeaways for creators and platforms on stabilizing trust and reducing crisis spirals.

The lifecycle of a parasocial fandom follows a recognizable arc. Formation is the period of initial bonding, when new audience members are most receptive to the creator's persuasive appeals and the community's interpretive norms are being established. Peak Persuasive Flow is the stable period when the creator's rhetorical consistency produces high engagement and strong community identity.

Crisis and Contradiction is the disruption event—a scandal, a visible inconsistency, or a tonal shift that exposes a gap between the performed persona and new information. Fragmentation and Disillusionment is the aftermath, when the community splits and the creator must rebuild or accept a smaller, reoriented audience. The post translates the model into actionable guidance for both creators and platform trust and safety teams.