Gaby
In recent years, humanity has become increasingly dependent on selfies. Almost everyone, regardless of age, feels the need to take pictures of themselves. Initially, researchers believed that the roots of selfie popularity lay in narcissism. However, a recent study by a team of psychologists from Ohio State University revealed that the motivation for self-portraits goes beyond mere self-admiration.
When a person takes a selfie, they primarily want to capture a new experience, the profound significance of what is happening. Psychology professor Lisa Libby assured that it’s not about vanity, but rather a desire to document the importance of the moment. As her colleague Zachary Nies, the lead author of the study, noted, selfies “help people reconnect with their past experiences and create a new narrative.”
Seize the Moment!
As part of the research, the team of psychologists conducted six experiments involving 2,113 volunteers. In one of these experiments, participants were asked to consider a scenario where they might take a selfie on the beach with a friend. The researchers were interested in how important and meaningful the volunteers considered such an experience, as reported by Dailymail.
The researchers found that the more significance participants attributed to the event, the more likely they were to take a selfie.
In another experiment, participants were asked to comment on their own photos published on Instagram. Most volunteers noted that the pictures prompted them to reflect on the meaning of the moment and triggered many memories.
Interestingly, psychologists also discovered that participants preferred photos of themselves when taken by others. Thus, according to the study’s findings, people have deep and very personal reasons for taking selfies.
