From a psychological perspective, the taking of selfies is a self-oriented action that allows users to establish their individuality and self-importance; it is also associated with personality traits such as narcissism. However, selfie-taking is more than just the taking of a photograph.
Full Answer
What motivates people to take selfies?
Our research suggested there were six main motivations for taking selfies. They are: Self-confidence (e.g. taking selfies to feel more positive about oneself) Environmental enhancement (e.g. taking selfies in specific locations to feel good and show off to others)
Are selfies just another social activity upholding damaging gender roles?
According to Psychology Today, selfies are just another social activity upholding damaging gender roles and heteronormativity. And it all boils down to angles. We’ve all seen how a lot of women hold their phones up when they take selfies.
What do selfies mean to you?
Scientists are still studying and working to understand the psychology behind them. To some, a selfie may be an act of self-love and self-discovery. But for others, selfies may represent vanity and jealousy. The trick is to discover how selfies honestly make you feel. From there, you can choose whether to post or not post, follow or unfollow.
What are the pros and cons of taking selfies?
They are: Self-confidence (e.g. taking selfies to feel more positive about oneself) Environmental enhancement (e.g. taking selfies in specific locations to feel good and show off to others) Social competition (e.g. taking selfies to get more "likes" on social media)
What do psychologists say about selfies?
While putting a lot of effort into editing selfies is associated with negative psychological effects, the frequency of selfie posting doesn't appear to be. In fact, in several studies, a higher frequency of posting was actually associated with higher body esteem.
What does taking selfies say about you?
Selfies help people portray a version of themselves to the world. This is a statement that says “Look at me. This is who I am.” At times, it can be a very powerful statement and inspire people on to great things in their lives, while at other times, it is simply something that helps them get through the day.
Why do people take selfies psychology?
Self-confidence – Sharing a tailored self-image to both display confidence and feel more confident. Environmental enhancement – Posting selfies in different places to share or show off. Social competition – Seeking to gain followers or 'likes' as a measure of self-worth compared with others.
What does it mean when someone is always taking selfies?
This suggests that selfie-taking can sometimes indicate insecurity. This research suggests that self-centered motives for taking selfies are common, but not necessarily strongly linked to trait narcissism. And narcissism's connection to selfie-taking is a small part of a bigger picture.
Are selfies a mental disorder?
It's “selfie dysmorphia.” This is similar to a diagnosis called body dysmorphic disorder, which is a mental health disorder related to OCD. To help your child be more aware of how they use social media, try discussing how it makes them feel.
Is taking selfies a form of narcissism?
“People tend to take selfies frequently, and lots of different people take them. Some have suggested that people who take selfies might be more narcissistic, but our research suggests that's not necessarily the whole story,” Koterba told PsyPost.
Are selfies attention seeking?
Communication was the most common motivation for selfie-posting followed by attention seeking. Extraverted people post selfies for attention seeking, communication, and archiving motive while agreeable individuals post them only for communication and archiving.
Do narcissists like photos of themselves?
Highly narcissistic men feel emotional distress rather than delight when viewing pictures of themselves, according to new research, which may help us understand how narcissism works in our social media age.
What motivates people to take selfies?
Self-confidence (e.g. taking selfies to feel more positive about oneself) Environmental enhancement (e.g. taking selfies in specific locations to feel good and show off to others)
Are people who post a lot of selfies insecure?
The upshot: People who posted lots of selfies were uniformly regarded as less likeable, less successful, less adventurous and more insecure than those who share photos taken by somebody else.
What does it mean if a girl posts a lot of selfies?
Women were found to post more selfies than men. A small amount of the frequent posters were narcissists, but most of these women post a lot because of low self-esteem. These women base their self-worth on their appearance. They post selfies for validation from their friends and peers.
Does your selfie represent what others see?
One major factor is that photos generally show us the reverse of what we see in the mirror. When you take a photo of yourself using some (but not all) apps or the front-facing camera on an iPhone, the resulting image captures your face as others see it. The same is true for non-phone cameras.
What does it mean if a girl posts a lot of selfies?
Women were found to post more selfies than men. A small amount of the frequent posters were narcissists, but most of these women post a lot because of low self-esteem. These women base their self-worth on their appearance. They post selfies for validation from their friends and peers.
What do you call a person who takes a lot of selfies?
“Selfitis” is a term coined to describe the cultural habit of taking an overabundance of photos of oneself and posting them on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and other social media sites.
Are selfies attention seeking?
Communication was the most common motivation for selfie-posting followed by attention seeking. Extraverted people post selfies for attention seeking, communication, and archiving motive while agreeable individuals post them only for communication and archiving.
Why do men take selfies from below?
Men will take selfies from below when their audience is other men (to show dominance).
What are the processes of mate in Bob and Carol?
In the mating world of Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice, two processes are at play, intersexual attraction and intrasexual competition. Intersexual attraction refers to the set of strategies that people use to arouse the interest of members of the opposite sex.
How to impress women?
And here’s the advice for women: If you’re trying to impress other women in a professional context, take your selfies straight on. This will demonstrate your social intelligence. But if you’re trying to impress men in a romantic context, take your selfies from above. This will make you look younger and more attractive.
What happens when you take a selfie from above?
But what if you hold the camera above or below face level? When you take a selfie from above, you make the face and eyes look larger, so you appear shorter and younger. And if you photograph yourself from below, you emphasize your jaw, making yourself look taller and more dominant.
Why do animals use relative size?
Throughout the natural world, animals use relative size to express dominance and submission. You can even see vestiges of this in your pet dog’s behavior, as for example when she raises her hackles to intimidate the neighbor’s cat. And when you come home from work, she bows down before you, submitting to the leader of the pack.
What are Carol and Alice flaunting?
Likewise, Carol and Alice are flaunting their youth and fertility to garner the attention of Bob and Ted. At the same time, Bob and Ted are in intrasexual competition with each other as they vie for the ladies’ attention.
How tall is Fox over Bush?
But in other pictures of them standing next to each other, Fox towers over Bush. At 6’0’’, Bush is no shorty, but Fox is a lofty 6’4”. Still, everyone acknowledged Bush as the leader of the free world, so why should he care if Fox was taller than him. The reasons are primal.
Why are selfies so popular?
No more autographs or empty vacation shots of a monument. Selfies are authentic, immediate, and personal. People have always taken photographs to document, share, and remember life's events. Lens-enabled smartphones introduced a new fluidity and personalization. You no longer had to flag down passersby to help you capture special moments—and you can choose to share with a few, several, or the whole world. And like any visual image, selfies can deliver more "information" than text, because they include physical cues and context to the main message. In the raggedness of a selfie, you actually feel more of what’s going on.
What is the theory of parasocial interaction?
In 1956, Horton and Wohl proposed the theory of parasocial interactionto explain how television audiences developed perceptions of having a relationship with celebrities, talk-show hosts, and others who appeared frequently on their screens. Horton and Wohl viewed parasocial interaction as a unidirectional experience. The advent of social technologies like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook have changed the potential directionality of communications between celebrities and their audiences, allowing them to flow both ways. While some might argue that this no longer qualifies as parasocial interaction, a case can be made that tools like Twitter and Facebook create Horton and Wohl’s "intimacyat a distance" and notgenuine relationships.
How does TV affect intimacy?
TV enabled the manipulation visual imagery that enhanced intimacy through techniques such as close-up shots of faces and direct address to the camera. Selfies provide an equally powerful sense of intimacy through the authenticitythat comes from the ownership of the lens by the subject.
Is Rihanna's tweet a real relationship?
Exchanging tweets with Rihanna does not constitute a "real" relationship, of course. As Lueck (2012) noted, after studying social media activity of Kim Kardashian and her fans, a single post elicits hundreds of responses without any further action by Kardashian, and yet her followers experience the connection parasocially through the frequency of personal disclosures and images.
Is anxiety driven by mood?
Worry is driven by mood, not logic. Anxiety holds your deepest yearnings. And you can subdue it for good. Three experts turn everything you know about anxiety inside out.
What Do Your Selfies Mean to You?
Selfies are still a relatively new trend. Scientists are still studying and working to understand the psychology behind them. To some, a selfie may be an act of self-love and self-discovery. But for others, selfies may represent vanity and jealousy. The trick is to discover how selfies honestly make you feel. From there, you can choose whether to post or not post, follow or unfollow.
How many selfies are posted every day?
As someone who falls into the cringing category, I decided it’s time to do my research. 93 million selfies are posted every day around the world. So, why do so many people take selfies? What is the science of the selfie? With so many people participating in this global phenomenon, it’s time we explore how selfies impact our psychology.
What is hate follow?
This hypocrisy may contribute to what has come to be known as the “hate-follow.” This term describes a common phenomenon of following someone whose online presence annoys you. As much as you detest their content, you can’t seem to unfollow them. There’s something addictive about hating their posts.
What are the effects of Instagram filters?
The filters which turn subjects into animals and objects make faces thinner, eyes larger, and skin appear smoother. All of these alterations contribute to an obsession with youthful beauty and passiveness.
Do people view selfies negatively?
While people have a positive attitude toward their own selfies, studies show people view other people’s selfies negatively. We are likely to consider our own selfies to be authentic or ironic. On the other hand, we consider 90% of other people’s’ selfies to be superficial and narcissistic. Yikes, double standard.
Is selfie a social activity?
This is when things get interesting. According to Psychology Today, selfies are just another social activity upholding damaging gender roles and heteronormativity. And it all boils down to angles.
Do women take selfies from a higher angle?
Research shows that women who take selfies from a higher angle appear younger and submissive, and so more attractive. In contrast, men who take selfies from below appear taller, more dominant, and so more “manly.”. Instagram and Snapchat face filters have a similar effect.
What Are People Thinking?
According to the editor, it is because pictures such as these display humankind at its very best. When interacting with animals in this way, humans are portrayed as selfless, kind and even courageous. These themes are common when it comes to pictures of people saving abandoned strays or even raising awareness about welfare issues. People want to believe in the kindness of humankind because they want to believe in their own goodness.
Why are selfies so positive?
While selfies can be viewed in a somewhat negative light, they can also play a very positive role in people’s lives. Selfies help people portray a version of themselves to the world. This is a statement that says “Look at me. This is who I am.”.
Why do people like selfies?
According to the editor, it is because pictures such as these display humankind at its very best.
Why do people take selfies without makeup?
There has been a recent trend of “no makeup selfies” calling participants to post pictures of themselves online without makeup as a way to call attention to cancer awareness .
What is a selfie?
A selfie is an expression of a person’s identity. It is capturing a moment in a person’s life that meant something to them, but it is also a method of finding oneself, of getting to know oneself. A selfie might be no more than a picture of someone with his pet or perhaps even with his lunch, but to the person, it is his mark on a world that often demands too much and gives too little. It is the Millennial generation’s stamp on the earth, proving that they were here and they made a difference, regardless of what form it took.
Why do people use social media?
Social media sites were created to help people connect with each other , and many people use this excuse as the reasoning behind posting selfies of everything from the new pair of shoes they have purchased to their graduation photos. Why not share these events; after all, this is what social media is for, is it not? The same cannot be said for bad photos, however, since most people will admit that they would never share photos that make them look less than perfect. In fact, if many people had their way, they would hand pick every single picture that was posted to social media sites.
Why do people want to believe in the kindness of humankind?
People want to believe in the kindness of humankind because they want to believe in their own goodness.
Why are selfies wrong?
The sheer volume and publicness of selfies defies any models we have and we fall back on social norms. Unless you’re a celebrity, monarch or head of state, people aren’t supposed to self-promote or ‘brag.’ Especially females. In democratizing portraiture, selfies violate social rules of self-presentation and therefore something’s wrong. If the people in selfies aren’t famous or being paid to pose, then it must indicate a moral failing and they are labeled bragging, attention seeking, self-focused or narcissistic . Why is it okay for Chelsea Clinton and Rihanna and not the rest of us?
Why do people take selfies when no one is around?
A selfie can be taken when no one is around. If you don't like it you can erase it. I think people feel more comfortable with a selfie because its a self portrait that is not under pressure. No pressure, more relaxed result better picture.
What is a self-portrait?
We are awash in selfies. A selfie is a self-generated self-portrait , although calling them a “portrait” is a bit grandiose. Selfies are those pictures you take of yourself with, most likely, your camera phone. For things that are simple to produce, they generate a surprisingly strong reaction of either love ‘em or hate ‘em responses. Put aside your anxieties over rampant narcissism and the moral decline of the digital generation and exhale. Like every trend, the behavior will recede when the excitement and newness wears off. In the meantime, parents beware: the more you hate them, the more your kids will want to take them.
Why are selfies intimate?
Selfies are intimate because they represent a personal experience that is also social, taken for the express purpose of sharing. This gives selfies a level of self-conscious authenticity that is different from even a candid photograph—they are more raw and less perfect.
What does the IE mean in a selfie?
The “ie” at the end makes selfie a diminutive, which generally implies some affection and familiarity. From one semantic perspective, a selfie is a ‘little’ self, an aspect of identity . Alternatively, the diminutive can refer to the photograph rather than the self, which is quite different.
What is the prevalence of selfies?
The prevalence of selfies is one of many manifestations of the rise in self-publishing of all kinds of information and images. The venues, such as Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, Vine, Twitter, YouTube and others, are practically endless. Social technologies have redefined “normal” as more public.sharable and searchable.
What does the human brain search for in a picture?
The human brain continually searches for patterns and meaning. With any photograph, we always look for the meaning beyond the content: “What is the photographer trying to say?” or “What does this represent?” With selfies, we know who the photographer was, so we wonder what about the moment, not identity over time.
What is psychopathy in psychology?
Psychopathy: Impulsivity and lack of empathy. 5 Those high in psychopathy are likely to agree with statements like: “Payback needs to be quick and nasty." 3
What is a narcissist?
Narcissism: Extreme self-centeredness and a grandiose view of oneself. Narcissists have an excessive need to be admired by others and have a sense of entitlement. They’re likely to agree with statements like: “I’m more capable than most people,” and “I will usually show off if I get the chance.” 4.
What is self-objectification?
Self-objectification: A tendency to view one's body as an object based on its sexual worth. Those high in self-objectification tend to see themselves in terms of their physical appearance and base their self-worth on their appearance. 7.
What are the dark triads?
In this study, the authors examined self-objectification, along with three personality traits, known as the “Dark Triad”: narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism. 2 They’re called “dark” because they have an almost evil connotation and are associated with a callous and manipulative way of interacting with other people. 3.
Is Machiavellianism related to photo behavior?
Machiavellianism was un related to photo behavior when taking these other variables into account. This study suggests that narcissists are more likely to show off with selfies and make extra effort to look their best in these photos.
Is psychopathy a personality trait?
Due to some misinterpretations of this research, I also want to reiterate that psychopathy, as measured in this study, is a personality trait and is not the same thing as being mentally ill.
What are the components of selfitis?
The six components of selfitis, tested on the further participants, were: environmental enhancement (taking selfies in specific locations to feel good and show off to others ), social competition (taking selfies to get more "likes" on social media), attention -seeking (taking selfies to gain attention from others), mood modification (taking selfies to feel better), self-confidence (taking selfies to feel more positive about oneself), and subjective conformity (taking selfies to fit in with one’s social group and peers).
What is selfie taking?
However, selfie-taking is more than just the taking of a photograph. It can include the editing of the color and contrast, the changing of backgrounds, and the addition of other effects before uploading. These added options and the use of integrative editing have further popularized selfie-taking behavior, particularly among teenagers and young adults.
What is a selfie?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a selfie is a “photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and shared via social media.”.
Is selfitis a mental disorder?
On March 31, 2014, a story appeared on a website called the Adobo Chronicles that claimed that the American Psychiatric Association (APA) had classed “selfitis” as a new mental disorder. According to the author, the organization had defined selfitis as “the obsessive compulsive desire to take photos of one’s self and post them on social media as ...
When was the shutter tripper invented?
The Faries Shutter Tripper is either the first or second self-timing device marketed in the United States and patented January 14, 1902. Reply to Mary Clark.
Can you believe and be obedient to whomever you wish?
But of course you are free to believe and be obedient to whomever you wish.
Is social connection lite a friendship?
This is sort of like social connection lite. People can get approval and attention, but not an active socially intimate relationship with another person, which may be too scary for them. It's friendship, but from a safe distance.
The Purpose of Selfies
Differences Between Genders
- Females tend to post more selfies and do more selfie-editing than males do. In a study of American adolescents, females had a higher level of selfie appearance investment (as reflected by the effort put into selecting and editing selfies and worrying about appearance) and concerns over peer feedback compared to males (Nesi et al., 2021). Females were also more likely to try t…
The Effects of Taking vs. Editing Selfies
- Objectification theory describes the way that women are socialized, through exposure to sexually objectifying imagery, to internalize an observer view of their bodies as something to be evaluated to determine their worth. Self-objectification leads to habitual body appearance monitoring and increases the risk for eating disorders. Selfie-taking can promote taking the adoption of that obs…
“Selfitis”
- In 2014, the satirical blog The Adobo Chronicles posted a story saying that the American Psychiatric Association had deemed selfitis a mental disorder. While the story wasn’t true, a couple of researchers later proposed selfitis as an actual psychological constructand developed a psychometric test called the Selfitis Behavior Scale to measure compulsive selfie-taking behavi…
Viewers’ Perceptions
- The way we perceive our own selfies may not match up with how others perceive them. In a study by Re et al., one group of participants took selfies, and the researchers also took photos of those participants. When those photos were shown to another group of participants who served as external raters, the people in the selfies were rated as less attractive, less likeable, and more nar…
Are Selfies Good Or Bad?
- Overall, it seems like taking and posting selfies isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, different people may have different motivations for posting them, and some are probably healthier than others. It seems like what really causes problems for people is when they get heavily invested in editing their selfies. I’ve never taken a lot of selfies, and I’m clueless about photo editing apps. I’…
References
- Balakrishnan, J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2018). An exploratory study of “selfitis” and the development of the Selfitis Behavior Scale. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 16(3), 722-...
- Cohen, R., Newton-John, T., & Slater, A. (2018). ‘Selfie’-objectification: The role of selfies in self-objectification and disordered eating in young women. Computers in Human Behavior, 79, 6…
- Balakrishnan, J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2018). An exploratory study of “selfitis” and the development of the Selfitis Behavior Scale. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 16(3), 722-...
- Cohen, R., Newton-John, T., & Slater, A. (2018). ‘Selfie’-objectification: The role of selfies in self-objectification and disordered eating in young women. Computers in Human Behavior, 79, 68-74.
- Fox, J., & Rooney, M. C. (2015). The Dark Triad and trait self-objectification as predictors of men’s use and self-presentation behaviors on social networking sites. Personality and Individual Diff...
- Mills, J. S., Musto, S., Williams, L., & Tiggemann, M. (2018). “Selfie” harm: Effects on mood an…
