Effects of taking selfies on women's self-objectification, mood, self-esteem, and social aggression toward female peers. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fox, Jesse; Vendemia, Megan A.; Smith, Marisa A.; Brehm, Natalie R.
• Is Part Of: Body image. Volume 36(2021)
• Page Start: 193
• Page End: 200
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: Self-objectification -- Selfies -- Self-presentation -- Self-esteem -- Social media -- Social aggression; Body image -- Periodicals; Body image -- Research -- Periodicals; Body Image -- Periodicals; 306.4613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.11.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1740-1445

Abstract

Highlights: For women, taking selfies had negative psychological but positive social effects. Selfie-taking, compared to photographing objects, led to heightened self-objectification. Selfie-taking also led to a more negative mood and lower state self-esteem. Selfie-takers demonstrated less social aggression toward their online peers. Abstract: This study investigated the effects of taking photos (of the self or objects) on women. Objectification theory states that women are subjected to societal pressure to focus on their physical appearance. The emergence of social media as a communication channel has further reinforced the emphasis on women's appearance, beauty ideals, and body image. On social media, selfies serve as a self-presentation of one's appearance to an online audience. In this 2 × 2 experiment, women ( N = 120, M age = 19.87) took pictures of themselves (i.e., selfies) or objects. They were told beforehand that these pictures would be kept private or that they would be posted online on social media. After taking pictures, we assessed women's self-objectification, mood, and self-esteem. Women then engaged in a photo tagging task in which they selected hashtags for selfies of other women. Selfie takers expressed higher self-objectification, more negative mood, and diminished self-esteem compared to those taking pictures of objects. Selfie takers also demonstrated comparatively less social aggression, using fewer derogatory tags on other women's pictures. Although taking selfies may negatively affect producers, there may be benefits for online social interaction with peers.