Posting on Facebook has become a seamless action performed by almost everyone on a daily basis. Even though we tend not to put a lot of thought into what we are sharing with our friends, a new study finds that our posts can actually tell a lot about our personality.
According to Dr. Tara Marshall, the author of the study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, people who boast narcissism traits tend to post on Facebook about accomplishments, exercise and diets a lot more.
Dr. Marshall stated that narcissists tend to share such bragging posts because they tend to receive more likes and comments on such updates. Ironically, even though their friends politely like such egotistical displays, they often secretly dislike such bragging pursuits.
The study itself consisted of a survey conducted with the help of 555 avid Facebook users and individuals who like the social media platform.
Another interesting correlation found within the surveyed group of people was that people who have low self-esteem tend to more regularly post updates regarding their current romantic partner.
The study also showed that people who tend to post on Facebook about their children tend to be more conscientious.
The study also found a direct correlation between the openness of people towards others and how often they share posts on social media. While introverts share less regularly, extroverts tend to often update their Facebook wall with posts regarding seemingly mundane activities and everyday life status updates.
What’s more, those with high openness were far more likely to share intellectual topics, due to their tendency to use Facebook for sharing all kinds of information.
What’s even more attention-grabbing is the response people have towards the like and comment ratio on their posts. According to Dr. Marshall, those who are rewarded with ‘likes’ on their posts tend to feel socially included, while those who don’t receive as many likes tend to feel ostracised by their Facebook audience.
Dr. Marshall further stated that the core aim of the study is to increase the awareness towards the effects Facebook posts have and to show what certain post types reveal about our personality.
The author of the study also shared that knowing how our posts affect others can help us avoid topics, which may annoy our Facebook friends and rather focus on more entertaining social media behavior and posts.
What do you post on Facebook? Do you find the results of this study accurate? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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I find that Facebook works well for people of like minds. I have a variety of people and I tend to be the extrovert according to this Article..I post things many would not agree with and avoid things that i had rather not offend some of my friends with my feeling or thoughts of what they are so dogmatic opposite about..some time I fail both ways and sometime it is a winner....,I love many things and find many things interesting ..I am very open about my very up and down life and share much of my personal information with them.. but can be very hostile to some things so I avoid that,..they can share with me or they can skip it ,.. that is all OK with me.....I have been very crushed and very lifted up by people i call family or friends.... it is very much like real life if you let it be.. I am wondering lately why we just don't let each other be who they are and stop putting them in Psycho boxes.. ..I wish this was not an issue but it is.. and every one starts analyzing each other and that is bad for Facebook and the people on there.. Maybe something to help people find their like minded friends if that is what they demand on Facebook , and let the rest of us be who we choose to be.with out having psychological labels on what we are sharing with each other..
I don't really think updating your status with information about your accomplishments makes you a narcissist. If you got accepted into or graduated your dream university, found a new amazing job, successfully finished a diet or work-out plan, what's wrong with sharing? It's so positive and inspirational! I'd be happy if more people do that.
There's nothing wrong with sharing your achievements, but 'how' you do it matters. One person's achievement can motivate another
It's the constant bombardment that drives me nuts. How many selfies does one person need to post? We know what you look like! The same as the one you posted yesterday or an hour ago!!!!
Selfies can be as much a sign of insecurity as they can of narcissism. I agree with Valentina. Post about your accomplishments and post them often... that's why I chose to be connected to you on fb... to share in your life. I want to be happy for/with you. The green eyed monster is an ugly thing.
You must be the kind of person that post on Facebook after you gave a homeless person a dollar
I share posts I find personally interesting and worth knowing. I like choosing what, and when, I'd like to be exposed to
Am over needing to compromise between having to live 'under the rocks' and not know what's happening in the world; and needing to deal with ads and marketing in areas I have zero interest in.
I'm probably hostile at times on Facebook, but I'm very calm and easy going off it, some people just burns me up on here!
Megalo mania can be associated to narcissism. I wonder if anyone knew that.