Selfie psychology

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Replies

  • SwannySez
    SwannySez Posts: 5,860 Member
    I don't really mind selfies, I wouldn't take any in front of other people 🤣 it's kind of awkward. I don't really mind people posting them but let's face it... If I'm on Instagram for example and the person posts 5 selfies a day, I probably unfollowed them. Maybe some people are afraid that people forget what they look like? I don't know, it's a little annoying. Good for them for having the confidence though.

    Yah this. There is such a thing as over selfying the self. People.
    In saying this, I will probably post a selfie later.

    This is SO gonna be a nude.
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    edited September 2018
    I don't post selfies unless it's a selfie of me with my kids (or someone else). Or me doing something cool, like if I mastered a pull up I would totally take a video or picture and post that up on instagram. If you look through my instagram it's like 90% pictures of my kids. I feel really weird about posting selfies like it makes me seem pathetic and attention seeking. Like I need other people to see a picture of me and tell me I'm pretty. I feel embarrassed by that. Anytime I've taken a selfie because I thought I looked pretty or something, I'm always afraid my husband is going to look through my phone and then laugh at me for taking a selfie, so I delete them. Lol.

    eta -- I do like having pictures of myself as proof that I looked good though. I feel like one day I'll be old and happy to look back on them. Like when I got all dressed up for a wedding I had my husband take pictures of me ha...
  • go_cubs
    go_cubs Posts: 1,183 Member
    I do once in awhile, it’s awkward when other people are around but sometimes I like the way I look and need to capture the moment
  • bhadbahabi
    bhadbahabi Posts: 575 Member
    I used to hate the camera but one day I got over it and decided that I was going to try to look hawt. I'd take them on good and bad days. Bad days probably twice as many. Then I got photoshop and tried my best with that and a digital camera to look like someone famous, like the magazines. Then I got delusional and they didn't even look like me at all. I backed off of the photoshop and filters but still tried too hard. For what? Compliments. I was really drawn in to social media and how high could you get your numbers. I never actually found that out but by gawd did I try to be a internet thot.

    I kind of force myself to now just to be participating with everyone else as a social effort as it's the thing to do. I don't want to completely disappear from the internet. I get embarrassed taking selfies in public but that doesn't stop me. I only judge other people a little bit. 😈 I do like the movement of people trying to take more true to life pictures because it does effect people.
  • Just_Mel_
    Just_Mel_ Posts: 3,992 Member
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
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    This.
  • Watching_The_Wheels
    Watching_The_Wheels Posts: 4,601 Member
    edited September 2018
    Fortunately for me, I possess neither the physical attributes or the mental confidence that is required to post selfies. That, along with my self-awareness and insecurities overshadow any attempt to selfie. I’ve always been better with words...
  • nooshi713
    nooshi713 Posts: 4,877 Member
    Before cell phone cameras were a thing I would take pictures with my digital camera, and my 35mm camera before that. I love looking back on pictures years later and remembering good times. I guess I usually take them when I'm feeling pretty. I dont do it for validation or anything. Strangely, my pictures here get a lot of woos.
  • slimgirljo15
    slimgirljo15 Posts: 269,456 Member
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    My handlers, P.R. head & security team lead have all advised me aginst posting selfies.



    They all seem to be concerned about stalkers from the American Upper Midwest or the East Coast of Australia

    Dis me B):D
  • InkgirlKC
    InkgirlKC Posts: 251 Member
    I rarely take a selfie. Not sure what is says about me. I am confident in my looks so that's not the issue. I just don't see a need for it. If someone wants to see what I look like, sure, why not but other than that it seems needy to me, I guess.
  • SabAteNine
    SabAteNine Posts: 1,867 Member
    I was very awkward about having my picture taken for a long time during young adulthood. I had taken some self portraits before, when I was doing portrait photography, but those were not meant to be pretty. After that I think the only selfies I got were when I changed my phone and wanted to test the camera, when somebody else took them or when I was really nicely dressed (like for going to an event). Oh, and I had some when I was testing my bridal makeup and dress - those too.

    My selfie-ing got wind in its sails here. Here, it ALL went downhill quickly :smiley:
    I guess it helps with confidence. It's also like „hey, if they can, then I can, too”, and „nobody knows me here”. Mostly the latter. I profoundly dislike the same-face-same-angle selfie, so it's also an exercise in creativity. And in a nice way, it helps lift my spirits.
  • Mean_Spice
    Mean_Spice Posts: 279 Member
    I do not get selfie 'woo-ed'. I do not do selfies :-)
  • RngrZulu2
    RngrZulu2 Posts: 269 Member
    I do selfies. Or, I used to. Not so much now. I can’t really figure why. Most people know what I look like at this point.
    Or not.
  • Mandylou19912014
    Mandylou19912014 Posts: 208 Member
    I haven’t ever looked into a selfie or the reasoning behind it. To me it’s just a photograph you’ve had to take yourself .. any filters or edits just enhance it slightly
  • kds10
    kds10 Posts: 452 Member
    I find it weird when people post selfies of themselves on facebook and then you know they are waiting for the "omg you look so good, etc. etc. etc. I never respond to selfies on facebook because I know they just want validation and to me get validation from somewhere else please. Take a course, volunteer, do something good, etc.
  • JDMac82
    JDMac82 Posts: 3,192 Member
    Having not read any of the replies.....

    Instant gratification, use to have to wait to see if it was a good picture now its boom, i dont like that one, delete, take a new one. Then add in all the filters and auto corrects......

    People dont see the real them anymore, so to speak, its more about oh i like that pic, lemme send it out to the masses (text/snap/IG/etc)

    then a person likes or comments, there fore reinforcing the behavior.
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    It is funny to think about. yes I think posting a lot of selfies means that person is seeking attention and validation. And if there's someone who posts selfies all the time, I unfollow them because that's annoying AF. But I am also seeking attention and validation when I post anything. Every time I post something on instagram, a picture of my kids, my garden, whatever, I go back and check many times to see if anyone liked it. Why? I think instagram and facebook are bad for my mental health lol.
  • greg_87
    greg_87 Posts: 8 Member
    I agree its for validation, attention, or seeking approval. I used to hate selfies, or having my picture taken in general. Because even though people do it for validation, or attention they also don't want to be judged in a negative way. I realized that I was my own worst critic. When you take a picture of yourself, (or picture is taken of you) The first thing you look for is flaws, and that's all you see. That's all you focus on.

    I started taking more pictures when I began working out. Posting them on fb in this "look at me, putting in work" kind of manner. I want people to see what i'm doing, I want people to be proud of it, I want them to see the progression, maybe even inspire people to do the same. I stopped posting them, and people asked if I stopped going, so a sense of accountability. I'm not just going to post "went to the gym today" But If you don't like selfies. Then you must not like when people share their mfp diaries, or when people post their weight loss. The list goes on, and on. It's all the same.

    As far as the psychological aspect of it. Below is a good video. Its controversial, but makes sense. Start at 3:48

    I don't see anything wrong with selfies, or attention/validation through social media in general. As long as not getting a good response, or not getting the attention you seek doesn't lead to self pity, or depression. That's when it becomes an issue. It's very common in the younger community.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As8XkJNaHbs
  • CaptainFantastic01
    CaptainFantastic01 Posts: 9,558 Member
    I selfie because people ask me to
  • bojack5
    bojack5 Posts: 2,859 Member
    I never selfied until i joined here. I never fully bought into it, but did partake some. Less and less interested in doing it as the "newness" wore off.
  • SabAteNine
    SabAteNine Posts: 1,867 Member
    I selfie because people ask me to

    *ASKS*
    bojack5 wrote: »
    I never selfied until i joined here. I never fully bought into it, but did partake some. Less and less interested in doing it as the "newness" wore off.

    Umm.... *ASKS*
  • bojack5
    bojack5 Posts: 2,859 Member
    SabAteNine wrote: »
    I selfie because people ask me to

    *ASKS*
    bojack5 wrote: »
    I never selfied until i joined here. I never fully bought into it, but did partake some. Less and less interested in doing it as the "newness" wore off.

    Umm.... *ASKS*

    Hey, you never open and look at at all my special private pics I send!
  • SabAteNine
    SabAteNine Posts: 1,867 Member
    bojack5 wrote: »
    SabAteNine wrote: »
    I selfie because people ask me to

    *ASKS*
    bojack5 wrote: »
    I never selfied until i joined here. I never fully bought into it, but did partake some. Less and less interested in doing it as the "newness" wore off.

    Umm.... *ASKS*

    Hey, you never open and look at at all my special private pics I send!

    You mean there's special private pics lost in the dreaded PM limbo?!? FREAKING DAMN IT. I feel cheated.
  • R3d_butt3rfly
    R3d_butt3rfly Posts: 1,127 Member
    I selfie because there was a point in my life where I hated what I saw in the mirror. It has taken many years to learn self love. So when I selfie now, I do it because I feel good, in my eyes I look good and It's a reminder of how far I've come.

    The luster of selfying on this site has lost its appeal to me so I don't do it as often anymore.