At a time when selfies are legion, many of us systematically depreciate ourselves on the clichés. But why this aversion? The answer of Johanna Rozenblum, psychologist.
Pale complexion, extra pounds, dull gaze… For some people, seeing themselves in a photo is almost torture and criticism is systematic. But why do we often find ourselves less photogenic than our friends, why are we so critical, and how do we fix it?
A frozen image that we do not recognize
The first reason for our very critical opinion on photos is perception: whether on paper or on the screen of our smartphone, the recorded image is very often far from the one we have of ourselves. moving, in the mirror. And that’s normal: she freezes for a moment a light a look, sometimes a discomfort that we can’t control. A photograph is an image of oneself that one does not control.
A thinking bias when it comes to self
The critical spirit is all the more virulent when it is addressed to ourselves (whereas our neighbor in the photo can be taken with her eyes half-closed, or in full grimace). An effect that does not escape Johanna Rozenblum, a psychologist who details this phenomenon for us:
“We are often critical of ourselves when we look at ourselves in photos. Rather than appreciating the memory, we focus on details that only we see and which come to affix an acerbic vision of our image. Obviously, a detail that makes someone else’s charm is immediately badly perceived by us!”.
Rest assured, however, this bias is widespread and your friends probably think the same about themselves. What to let go of the criticism…
Good in your body, good in your head!
When does self-criticism become problematic?
Not adoring yourself in a photo is therefore “normal”… As long as you can put the “wound” into perspective and also put aside the perfection induced by the networks.
“Relativizing will allow us to realize that the beauty of an image does not reside in an alleged perfection, often fictitious, and increasingly conveyed by social networks, which produce digital avatars that are in no way human. “
Nevertheless, when it impacts our emotional balance and our mood, this painful feeling of seeing yourself in a photo can become problematic.
“If a detail, seen as a mountain, leads to no longer wanting to be photographed, generates a withdrawal into oneself or even a loss of self-esteem or self-esteem, it would be interesting to understand the origin. In extreme cases, people with dysmorphophobie will focus on a specific point of their body and end up seeing it as a source of major problem, an obvious defect on which it is necessary to intervene as soon as possible.”
“In reality, it is not so” repeats the psychologist. Once again, it’s the person’s skewed look that exacerbates a detail that often makes the charm. But consulting can help you get out of this suffering, if it takes over at the right time.
