Facebook profile photos: What do they say about us?

    Facebook profile photos: What do they say about us?

    Since the camera has existed, especially since
    that the first digital cameras appeared, we were all taken by euphoria
    to capture every meaningful moment of our life. In fact, one of the
    psychological functions of photos is precisely to preserve memory
    autobiographical, a permanent memory of what we have been and what we have
    done.

    However, it's not all that simple. In front of the lens
    we feel observed and this means that, in one way or another, we put ourselves
    posing. Consciously or not, we attempt to project a positive image of
    ourselves. Of course, nobody wants to look bad in a photo! For this reason
    there are not a few psychologists who claim that behind a photo he hides
    a whole world to discover. In social networks like Facebook, through photos it is
    rattles off the story of our life, through which our friends can us
    follow step by step. However, one of the most important is undoubtedly the
    profile photo. Why did we choose this one and not another? Thing
    does this photo say about us? The cultural background
    What kind of photos do you have on your Facebook profile? Yes
    it is a close-up image of your face that does not let you see
    nothing of the background? Or rather it is a photo where you can see it
    shrunk and is the context that stands out? Choosing a photo over
    another would depend on your culture of origin, or at least that's it
    argue some researchers from the universities of Illinois and the University
    National Taiwan. These scholars analyzed 200 Facebook profiles, half of which corresponded to citizens
    Americans while the other half were citizens of Taiwan. The side
    interesting given by the research was that cultural correspondences were found
    regardless of the context of the photo. People originally from Taiwan tended to opt for
    images in which the context was noticeable while the citizens
    Americans preferred photos where the faces were better seen at the expense of
    context. A second was developed to verify these results
    study involving a larger sample. Again, yes they are
    appreciate the same differences. In addition, it should be noted that a study
    previous, made in 2010 with more than 300 US students, already had
    gave similar results. Curiously, a previous study made with the technique
    of "eye tracking" (which allows
    trace how the eyes move while observing objects), proved that
    people of Western culture, looking at a portrait, tend to stare at each other insistently
    in the face while people of oriental culture spend more time analyzing
    the details of the context. The researchers give no conclusive explanation but the
    causes of these differences may be different. For example, the trend
    of Western culture to fix itself in the individual rather than in society or the
    attempt to protect privacy and
    offer only the essential details, completely neglecting the context.
    Or maybe just an occult tendency leading towards narcissism? Some examples
    Let's take a closer look at some classic examples of
    photos that normally appear in Facebook profiles. Of course, I have to
    emphasize that these interpretations must not be taken too much
    seriously since they are just generalizations. 1. Perfectly centered: You are a confident mature adult
    in yourself but maybe a little bored. Facebook profile photos: What do they say about us? 2. Distance portrait: You don't want to reveal yours
    personality, you are shy and reserved. You are probably hiding some flaws
    physique you don't want to show. Facebook profile photos: What do they say about us? 3. Photo from when you were a child: You think your past is
    the best part of your life, you feel a strong nostalgia for the past and
    you probably have been listening to the same music for decades or always use
    the same clothes. Definitely, you don't want to change. Facebook profile photos: What do they say about us? 4. Photo of the child without the father: You probably think that
    having a baby was the most important thing i ever accomplished in
    your life. And being a parent is nice, but remember that you are also so much more
    of this. Facebook profile photos: What do they say about us? 5. Wedding photo: You want to give the impression of being
    an adult and mature person who knows how to take on his responsibilities. But ... are you really? Facebook profile photos: What do they say about us? 6. Photo in couple: Indicates that the other person is enormously
    important to you. You'd probably be willing to do whatever it takes to
    keep the relationship because you can't imagine life without each other. Facebook profile photos: What do they say about us? 7. Photo of a fictional character: You do not wish to reveal the
    your true identity or are you one of those people who get carried away
    easily from the opinions of others. You don't care to assert yours
    criteria and your views. Facebook profile photos: What do they say about us? 8. Caricature: This choice can be interpreted in two ways:
    as an attempt to keep one's distance or as a person who does not take himself
    really seriously. Facebook profile photos: What do they say about us? 9. Artistic photo: Normally they are black and white and have
    as a goal to shout to the world that you are a painter, a writer or a
    poet. But ... are you really? Facebook profile photos: What do they say about us? 10. Photo of a party with friends: Probably points to one
    suggestible person who easily yields to the wishes of the group and who
    wants to offer an image of himself that is outgoing and open to new experiences. Facebook profile photos: What do they say about us? If you have any doubts left
    ...

    A study done by the University of Texas has
    organized a very simple but brilliant experiment. A series has been asked
    of students to rate the profile of five new people they just had
    known Facebook and they were trying to offer as much as possible of
    data relating to their personality. Later, the researchers contacted people in
    question and subjected them to a personality test. Surprisingly, the
    Facebook profile was of great help. Who had to describe the personality of
    these people were not so mistaken, especially in the characteristics
    related to introversion / extraversion, emotional stability and openness to
    New experiences. Fuentes:
    Huang, C., and Park, D.
    (2012). Cultural influences on Facebook photographs. International Journal of Psychology; 1-10.
    Mendelson, A.
L.
& Papacharissi, Z. (2010) Look
at
us:

Collective
Narcissism
in
College
Student
Facebook
Photo
Galleries. The
Networked
Self:
Identity,
Community
and
Culture
on
Social
Network Sites. Routledge: Zizi
Papacharissi.
    Gosling, S. D.; Gaddis, S.
    & Vazire, S. (2007) Personality Impressions Based on Facebook Profiles. In:ICWSM.
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