No Filter: A Study on the Correlation of Perceived Selfie Behavior and Personality Traits among Young Adults

Abstract

Selfie has been a popular phenomenon amongst people of all ages however, it is the youth who has been practicing it the most. Technology has made it conducive for everyone to take a selfie of their own. This trend has become a talk of the town and has been researched upon. With this said, the study delved into the selfie phenomenon with regards to the youth’s selfie behavior and personality traits through a sequential explanatory study in order to determine the correlation between one’s perceived selfie behavior and personality traits. The study gathered total of 249 (N=249) participants from the College of Arts and Sciences, UP Manila through time location sampling. Participants were asked to answer both a selfie behavior questionnaire and personality test (NEO-PI-R). Results showed that most participants have low fondness for taking selfies in terms of the number of selfies uploaded and those taken. Most of the very high scores fall under Neuroticism while most of the very low scores fall under Agreeableness. Only 4 variables were found to have a significant correlation with personality traits namely: (a) time spent on editing a selfie has a negatively weak correlation with Extraversion, (b) frequency of online posts has a negatively weak correlation with Agreeableness, (c) use of Twitter and Tumblr has a positively weak correlation with Openness, and (d) leisurely purposes for going online has a negatively weak correlation with Conscientiousness. Semi-structured interviews with 7 participants were done to further elaborate the study. Quantitative results show that reasons for why the youth take selfies are highly occasional. They see that the purpose of the selfies is for the self and the factors that influence them are mostly social, including fads and peers. However, these factors are deemed not to be influential. Perceived online audience are mostly family and peer groups. The audience may influence one’s online decisions by regulating the audience’s behavior while others believe that the audience does not influence them and will still follow what they want. The popularity of a certain act may be followed for the sake of trying but, it is noted that it is key to know the context or purpose of the act before doing it. The researcher notes that the time frame of the study may have affected the results. In addition participants may be controlling their answers in the selfie behavior questionnaire due to the attached negative stereotype with people who take numerous selfies. Further studies may use a scale on selfie behavior and a Filipino-based personality test to have more relevant results. Articles should not linked selfies with psychopathology unless proven. As social media users, each is endowed with a duty to post responsibly for each and every user may influence each other. The researcher supposes the results of the study be useful in aiding the youth in discovering and creating their identities in an age where technology and social media greatly influences an individual’s life.