The selfie. Is there anything more annoying in the social media world?
Answer: Gym selfies.
I don’t care how many kilometres you have run today. I have run from the couch to the fridge at least 10 times but you don’t see me posting it all over Facebook.
Turns out, science is also on my side.
A new study has shown that people who post about their diet, exercise and accomplishments are ‘typically narcissists’.
The research carried out by the Brunel University in London analysed data from over 500 Facebook users to see the personality traits that motivates what they chose to write about in their status updates.
They were each asked to fill in a survey on self-esteem and narcissism including some of the Big Five personality traits: extroversion, neuroticism, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness.
Naturally, narcissists posted more frequent status updates about their diet and workout routine as well as their achievements.
The researchers found that it is typically motivated by the need for attention and validation and that more ‘likes’ people got, the more it reinforced the attention they craved.
I could have told you that.
However, Psychology lecturer Dr Tara Marshall believes the attention received isn’t always sincere.
“Although our results suggest that narcissists’ bragging pays off because they receive more likes and comments to their status updates, it could be that their Facebook friends politely offer support while secretly disliking such egotistical displays”
Perhaps that will make you think twice before you press ‘upload’ on that photo of your meal planning or gym mirror selfie.
So why not fill that you-shaped gap in your self-esteem with more socially sophisticated musings and stop clogging up my feed with sweaty (yet inspiring) gym poses.
Oh, and thanks for liking that picture of my holidays I posted last week.
What do you think, dear readers? We would love to know if this is something that gets on your wick? Mail me Amanda.Cassidy@HerFamily.ie or join the conversation on the comments on Facebook.
