What would Freud make of our obsession with selfies? | BBC Ideas

Summary

The video explores the historical and psychological roots of selfies, dating back to the first one taken in 1839. It delves into the concept of narcissism, introduced by Sigmund Freud, and how it relates to the modern selfie culture. The script discusses the rise in narcissistic traits, particularly in social media, and the potential negative impacts on viewers, such as increased envy and insecurity. Freud's theories on the need for attention and the neurotic nature of seeking validation are used to critique the selfie phenomenon, suggesting a more balanced approach to self-presentation.

Takeaways

• 📸 The concept of selfies is as old as photography itself, with the first selfie taken in 1839 by Robert Cornelius.
• 🤳 The term 'selfie' was coined in 2013 and quickly became the Oxford English Dictionary's word of the year.
• 🧐 Sigmund Freud's theories on narcissism suggest that excessive self-love can lead to a psychological disorder.
• 🌟 Narcissism is associated with an individual's preoccupation with their own image and a desire for admiration from others.
• 📈 Studies indicate that narcissistic traits are more prevalent in individuals who are active on social media and post selfies, particularly men.
• 🚺 Interestingly, women post more selfies but are found to be less narcissistic compared to men.
• 📈 Narcissism has been on the rise, paralleling the increase in obesity rates over the past few decades.
• 🔍 Freud might have seen the rise in selfie culture as stemming from a combination of narcissism and a need for social approval.
• 🤔 The constant exposure to curated, idealized images of others through selfies can lead to feelings of envy, inadequacy, and isolation.
• 👍 Freud would advise focusing on capturing moments with friends rather than selfies to foster more meaningful connections and reduce neurotic tendencies.

Q & A

When was the term 'selfie' first added to the Oxford English Dictionary?

The term 'selfie' was first added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2013.

Who is credited with taking the first selfie, and when was it taken?

The first selfie is credited to an American named Robert Cornelius, and it was taken in 1839.

What is the Greek mythological story that Freud associated with narcissism?

In the Greek myth, a young man named Narcissus falls in love with his own reflection in a pool and eventually drowns trying to embrace his own image.

According to Freud, what is the natural part of being human that can turn into a psychological disorder?

Freud thought that a bit of self-love is a natural part of being human, but it can turn into a psychological disorder when someone loves themselves to the exclusion of everyone and everything else.

How do psychologists measure narcissism today?

Psychologists have developed tests to measure personality traits like narcissism, and they have found that narcissists tend to be more active on social media.

What is the relationship between posting selfies and narcissism according to the script?

Posting selfies is strongly related to narcissism, but this relationship is more pronounced in men, while women tend to post more selfies despite being less narcissistic.

How does the psychologist Jean Twenge describe the rise of narcissism over the past few decades?

Jean Twenge has shown that narcissism has risen at roughly the same rate as obesity over the past few decades.

What did Freud believe about the need for attention, as illustrated by his observations of 'hysterical paralysis'?

Freud believed that the women suffering from 'hysterical paralysis' were unconsciously stopping themselves from walking because they wanted attention.

How does the script suggest selfies can contribute to feelings of envy, inadequacy, isolation, and insecurity?

Selfies show people's best moments, carefully curated and heavily stage-managed, which can lead to feelings of envy, inadequacy, isolation, and insecurity in those viewing them.

What advice does the script give regarding taking selfies, based on Freud's perspective?

The script suggests that instead of focusing on taking selfies, one should remember Narcissus and focus on their friends instead, as this may lead to a more positive social interaction and align with Freud's views on healthy behavior.

What is the script's final recommendation for enhancing understanding of the selfie culture?

The script recommends that to enhance understanding of selfie culture, one should consider the psychological implications of both taking and viewing selfies, as well as the historical context provided by Freud's theories.

Outlines

00:00

📸 The Selfie Phenomenon and Its Roots

The paragraph delves into the ubiquity of selfies, a practice as old as photography itself, with the first selfie dating back to 1839 by Robert Cornelius. It questions why we use photography to capture images of ourselves, which we can easily see in a mirror, suggesting a deeper psychological motivation. The concept of narcissism, introduced by Sigmund Freud, is explored as a potential explanation. Freud's theories on ego, unconscious, and the idea of excessive self-love are mentioned, drawing a parallel between the ancient myth of Narcissus and modern selfie culture. The paragraph also touches on the rise of narcissism in recent decades, as indicated by psychological studies, and how this trend is reflected in social media activity, particularly among men who post selfies.

Keywords

💡Selfie

A 'selfie' is a self-portrait photograph, typically taken with a smartphone or webcam, often shared on social media. In the video, selfies are presented as a cultural phenomenon that dates back to the invention of photography itself, with the first selfie taken in 1839. The video explores how selfies are tied to concepts of self-love and narcissism, reflecting on how they are used to seek validation and attention.

💡Narcissism

Narcissism, derived from the Greek myth of Narcissus, refers to excessive self-love or self-absorption. In the context of the video, it is used to describe a personality trait where individuals have an inflated view of their own importance and are excessively occupied with their own image and achievements. The video suggests that the rise in selfie culture may be linked to an increase in narcissistic tendencies.

💡Psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis is a method of psychological therapy that explores the unconscious mind to understand the root causes of behavior and mental issues. The video mentions Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, who is credited with popularizing concepts like narcissism. Freud's theories are used to interpret the motivations behind the selfie culture and the psychological implications of self-love.

💡Ego

The 'ego' in Freudian psychology refers to the part of the personality that mediates between the conscious and the unconscious mind, striving to balance the individual's desires with reality. The video implies that the ego's role in managing self-image and self-esteem may be challenged by the excessive self-focus encouraged by selfie culture.

💡Social Media

Social media platforms are digital spaces where users can create and share content, interact with others, and build communities. The video discusses how social media has become a significant avenue for individuals to post selfies, thereby contributing to the rise in narcissistic behaviors and the need for social validation.

💡Personality Traits

Personality traits are enduring patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make up an individual's personality. The video references psychological tests that measure traits like narcissism, suggesting that certain personality types are more inclined to post selfies and engage in social media behaviors that reflect self-love.

💡Jean Twenge

Jean Twenge is a psychologist mentioned in the video who has researched the rise of narcissism in recent decades. Her work is cited to support the claim that narcissism is increasing at a rate similar to obesity, indicating a societal trend that the video links to the popularity of selfies.

💡Neurotic

In Freudian terms, 'neurotic' describes a psychological state where an individual experiences significant anxiety, often stemming from unconscious conflicts. The video suggests that the pressure to maintain a perfect image through selfies can lead to neurotic behaviors, as individuals may feel envy, inadequacy, and insecurity when comparing themselves to others' curated online personas.

💡Hysterical Paralysis

Hysterical paralysis, as discussed in the video, is a condition where an individual is unable to move a part of their body with no apparent physical cause. Freud believed it was a conversion disorder, where psychological stress was converted into physical symptoms. The video draws a parallel between this historical concept and the modern-day need for attention, suggesting that the desire for validation might manifest in different but similarly dramatic ways.

💡Envy

Envy is a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, or possessions. The video posits that the prevalence of selfies, which often depict idealized versions of life, can lead to increased envy among viewers, contributing to a sense of inadequacy and isolation.

💡Insecurity

Insecurity refers to a lack of confidence and the feeling of being unworthy or uncertain about oneself. The video suggests that the constant exposure to others' selfies can amplify feelings of insecurity, as individuals may perceive their own lives and appearances as lacking in comparison to the curated images they see online.

Highlights

Selfies are as old as photography, with the first selfie taken in 1839 by Robert Cornelius.

The term 'selfie' was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2013 and became the word of the year.

Sigmund Freud's concept of narcissism is relevant to the discussion of selfies.

Narcissism, according to Freud, is a natural part of being human but can become a disorder.

The Greek myth of Narcissus illustrates the concept of excessive self-love leading to self-destruction.

Psychologists have developed tests to measure narcissistic traits.

Narcissists tend to be more active on social media, especially in posting selfies for men.

Contrary to expectations, women post more selfies but are found to be less narcissistic.

Narcissism has been rising at a rate similar to that of obesity over the past few decades.

Freud believed that some people post selfies not out of self-love but for seeking approval from others.

Freud's observations of 'hysterical paralysis' in his female patients suggest a need for attention.

Freud would find selfies unhealthy due to the curated and staged nature of the images.

Constant exposure to curated images of others can lead to feelings of envy, inadequacy, and insecurity.

Freud suggested that selfies could be a modern form of seeking attention in a less harmful way than 'hysterical paralysis'.

The advice to focus on others and the environment rather than oneself when taking pictures aligns with Freudian principles.

The video concludes with a call to remember the story of Narcissus and consider the impact of selfies on mental health.

Transcripts

Go to any of the most beautiful places in the world,

and you'll see people taking pictures...

of themselves.

We think of this as a new thing.

Selfie only made it into the Oxford English Dictionary in 2013,

when it quickly became word of the year.

But selfies are about as old as photography.

The first was taken in 1839 by an American named Robert Cornelius.

So why have we used photography, this miraculous invention,

to take pictures of something we can see

in our bathroom mirror every morning?

Something odd is clearly going on.

And who better to explain human oddities than Sigmund Freud?

Freud invented psychoanalysis and popularised many ideas

like the ego, the unconscious, and talking to a therapist.

One of those ideas is narcissism, or excessive self-love.

In a Greek myth, a young man called Narcissus

sees his reflection in a pool

and spends so long staring at his own beauty

that he loses touch with the rest of the world,

and eventually drowns trying to embrace his own image in the water.

Freud thought that a bit of self-love was a natural part of being human.

But Freud also thought that self-love

can turn into a psychological disorder,

when someone loves himself to the exclusion

of everyone and everything else.

And that's what we usually mean by narcissism.

Psychologists have developed tests

for measuring personality traits like narcissism.

Here are some results.

Narcissists do tend to be more active on social media.

And posting selfies is strongly related to narcissism -

but only if you're a man.

Women tend to be less narcissistic than men,

even though women post more selfies.

Perhaps more worryingly, narcissism is rising.

The psychologist Jean Twenge has shown that,

over the past few decades,

it's risen at roughly the same rate as obesity.

Freud derived most of his insights from everyday life observations,

so he would have been very interested in all this data.

He would have concluded that narcissism is only part

of what's going on in the rise of selfie culture.

Some people are posting selfies

not because they're in love with themselves,

but because they want other people to be in love with them.

Freud would have seen that need for approval as neurotic or hysterical.

Freud began his career in the late 1800s,

a much more sexually repressed time.

Men and women were kept strictly separated.

And they were taught to be ashamed of feeling... sexy.

Many of Freud's female patients in Viennese high society

suffered from 'hysterical paralysis' -

an inability to walk that had no physical cause.

Freud believed that these women were, without knowing it,

stopping themselves from walking because they wanted attention.

So, if we need attention so badly that we'll paralyse ourselves for it,

why not post a few selfies? Isn't that better?

Well, Freud would find something unhealthy about selfies -

not just because of what they say about the people taking them,

but also because of what they do to the people seeing them.

Selfies show people's best moments,

carefully curated and heavily stage-managed.

So we're increasingly surrounded by images

of other people's apparently perfect lives and bodies.

Recent studies show that this makes us feel more envy,

inadequacy, isolation and insecurity.

Making us, in Freud's terms, more neurotic.

Freud said...

So next time you reach for the camera,

remember Narcissus and focus on your friends instead.

You may not get as many likes,

but you'll get a thumbs up from Freud.

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