Are you the person who simply has to post a couple of selfies every day? Do you lose sleep over the number of Instagram likes your selfies get?
If you fit that basic profile, congratulations because people will think you’re an insecure, unlikable, unsuccessful jerk who is close-minded towards new experiences and in desperate need of validation from strangers!
Well done!
According to a study in the Journal of Research in Personality by Washington State University psychologists, there are certain types of photos will cause others to make knee-jerk judgments on the owner’s personality.
Using 30 of the most recent Instagram pics from 30 students, 119 people were asked to rate these photos on 13 attributes like self-esteem, success and self-absorption. The results showed that those who posted more “posies” – pic where people posed – were seen as having more self-esteem, more adventurous, less lonely, more successful and more dependable.
For those who posted more selfies, well, it was the complete opposite to all those positive posie traits. So maybe hold off on posting that selfie for a bit.
Okay firstly, who on earth came up with the word “posie?” We already have a word for that – it’s called a “photo.”
Secondly, the researchers say this study merely scratches the surface of this particular topic but they think people think negatively of selfie takers because it makes the owners seem strange and unnatural compared to a regular photo.
And lastly, the study did point out that while people viewed selfie-lovers as close-minded, insecure, unlikable and unsuccessful, those traits aren’t necessarily indicative of the poster’s actual personality.
So while someone may seem like they’re a jerk in their selfies, it doesn’t mean they are.
Having said all that, don’t let this study deter you from taking selfies. If you’re comfortable in your own skin and have the confidence to take photos of yourself while on a public train, then kudos to you because who cares if strangers incorrectly think you’re someone who’s close-minded, insecure and unlikable.
But if you’re a selfie-pushing Instagram influencer who is indeed a close-minded, insecure and unlikable individual, you’re are getting unfollowed and blocked.