Gaby
Selfies have become a huge part of daily life. Almost everyone, no matter their age, feels the urge to photograph themselves. At first, researchers blamed narcissism for the trend. But a new study from psychologists at Ohio State University finds that the reasons people take selfies go beyond simple self-admiration.
When people take a selfie, they often want to capture a new experience — to record the meaning of the moment. Psychology professor Lisa Libby said it’s not about vanity but about documenting why the moment mattered. Her colleague, Zachary Nies, the study’s lead author, added that selfies “help people reconnect with their past experiences and create a new narrative.”
Seize the Moment!
As part of the study, the team ran six experiments with 2,113 participants. In one, volunteers imagined taking a selfie on the beach with a friend. The researchers wanted to know how meaningful the participants found that experience, according to Daily Mail.
They found that the more significance participants attributed to the event, the more likely they were to take a selfie.
In another experiment, participants commented on their own Instagram photos. Most said the pictures made them reflect on the moment’s meaning and triggered lots of memories.
Psychologists also found that participants preferred photos of themselves when someone else took them. Taken together, the findings suggest people have deep, personal reasons for taking selfies.
