The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel. 
Steven Furtick

A study published in Personality and Individual Differences proposed that editing and posting selfies online is more likely to occur amongst women who project an intimidating, helpless or likeable image and amongst men who project an intimidating or overly positive and successful image. 

This research was carried out by Phil Reed, a Professor of Psychology from the University of Swansea and Jo Saunders, a Professor of Psychology from Strathclyde University. 

In the age of social media, people around the world are more connected than ever. Unfortunately, this social connection often leads to social comparison and low self-esteem. The problem is, people tend to compare themselves to a person that doesn’t exist.

From editing photos to renting rooms that look like private jets, social media has given people the ability to manipulate every aspect of the image they present online. 

Drs. Reed and Saunders were interested in examining how men and women differ in the type of image they project and how this influences the photos they edit and post online.

The researchers recruited 436 university students between the ages of 18 to 30 to participate in their study. First, participants were instructed to complete a questionnaire which assessed how they behave in real-world settings to help classify their behavior as assertive or defensive. 

The assertive behavior, which is the focus of the current experiment, was broken down and categorized by the questionnaire. The assertive behaviors include: 

• Ingratiation: changing one’s attitude and behavior to appear more likeable to other

• Intimidation: projecting a powerful and dangerous image to instill fear 

• Supplication: projecting a weak and helpless image to solicit help from others

• Entitlement: claiming a right to privileges, responsibility for achievements, etc.

• Enhancement: projecting an overly positive and successful image of oneself

• Blasting: performing actions that produce negative evaluations of others

One week after completing the questionnaire, the participants returned to the lab with their cell phones. The participants were asked to share how many photos they’ve posted in the past week, what kind of photos they posted, how many photos they edited, etc.

The results revealed that, for female participants, the self-presentation behavior that was most associated with posting selfies was intimidation. This coincides with previous research which links aggression, intimidation and self-posting for women. 

Unsurprisingly, female participants also posted more selfies and edited more selfies than male participants. 

The researchers also found that female participants who employed more ingratiation behavior edited more posts while male participants who engaged in more enhancement and intimidation behavior edited more posts. 

In general, editing posts was associated with intimidation, entitlement, blasting, ingratiation, and supplication for male and female participants. 

With respect to the frequency of posting, female participants who engaged in a high degree of supplication and male participants who engaged in a high degree of enhancement posted more selfies. 

In addition, male participants who engaged in more assertive self-presentation behaviors posted more non-selfies. This may be explained by evolutionary mate selection which encourages males to signal their worth by displaying their material possessions. This could include posts that show possible signs of wealth.  

Overall, the researchers found that while women are less likely to engage in intimidation behavior in the real-world, this behavior is significantly associated with their social media presence. 

Additionally, posting edited photos is more likely to occur amongst (1) women who adjust their behavior to be more well-liked and (2) men who project an overly positive and successful image of themselves or a dangerous and fear-inducing image. 

Lastly, the more women project a weak image of themselves in order to receive help, the more selfies they will likely post. As for men, self-posting is more common amongst those who enhance their image.