Studying The Selfie
New research says we’re looking at sexy selfies all wrong.
Flip: Bottom Line
Selfie Study
- Researchers looked at social media posts in 183 countries.
- Results: More “sexy selfies” come from places, like U.S., where women have more opportunities.
- Why? Researchers say areas with greater upward mobility often have higher income inequality.
- Analysis: Sexy selfies “sell”; reflect desire to climb in social status.
“So, when a young woman adjusts her bikini provocatively with her phone at the ready, don’t think of her as vacuous or as a victim. Think of her as a strategic player in a complex social and evolutionary game. She’s out to maximise her lot in life, just like everyone.”
What Do Men
Have To Do With It?
Not as much as you might think.
Study: Women post more sexy selfies in countries with less gender discrimination.
Researchers: sexy selfies play to primitive instincts of women to compete with other women, for higher status, and finding a mate.
"In evolutionary terms, these kinds of behaviors are completely rational, even adaptive. The basic idea is that the way people compete for mates, and the things they do to put themselves at the top of the hierarchy are really important." Read more about the study here:
Sources
- The science behind sexy selfies:
https://www.businessinsider.com.au/sexy-selfies-science-2018-8 - New study reveals why women take sexy selfies:
https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/science-tech/new-study-reveals-why-women-take-sexy-selfies - GREAT EDITORIAL BY STUDY’S LEAD AUTHOR: Sexy selfies part of a complex game of evolution:
https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/science-tech/sexy-selfies-part-complex-game-evolution