Any Instagram photo dump is incomplete without a selfie. With the advent of social media, selfies have become an important part of our lives. People take selfies everywhere, whether they’re on a trip or at a party. Humans have always tried to capture their appearance, from cave paintings to self-portraiture. But since the concept of a selfie, a picture taken of yourself became popular, it has been relentless.

Selfies were already acclaimed as the 2013 Oxford Languages Word of the Year and Google told us that by 2019 there were already 93 million selfies. In the era where beauty is filtered through technology, it has trended its way to become a cultural phenomenon for more than a decade now.

Also Read: Content Creation: Incorporating Mental Health Practices into Your Creative Process

While its roots extend back to 1839 when Robert Cornelius, an amateur chemist and photographer, captured the first-ever selfie, it’s still tricky to understand the psychology behind it. Cornelius was just setting up a camera in the rear of his family store to produce the first light picture ever taken but what is it that fuels our fascination with GRWMs, ring lights, and the art of sharing the impeccable close-up?

What is it about selfies?

There is a “love-hate” relationship between the selfie and society. Before guessing that the answers might lie around narcissism, affirmation, external validation, personal documentary, body image etc. we will explore the why of selfies. As all of these are hot topics in research concerning selfies, we start by looking into the simpler aspects and build on to understanding

Read More: Role of Media in Promoting Body Image Dissatisfaction

how complex selfie psychology can be. While one of the major uses of a selfie is to present a curated version of oneself, they are useful for a diverse range of tasks. One can represent who they are or the story of what they would like to be perceived as. That edits the social impression and gives a sense of control over it. The affirmation in the ways of likes, shares, reposts etc. is yet another way to reinforce this idea of knowing that the management one did, to present themselves in a certain way, “worked”.

What does one capture in a selfie?

A definition: For a selfie to be a selfie, it has to show your full face in it and it is generally more acceptable to call something a selfie when there is one person captured, while it has now generalised to an intimate group standing behind the one person in focus as well, like the famous Ellen’s Oscar Selfie.

If only Bradley's arm was longer. Best photo ever. #oscars pic.twitter.com/C9U5NOtGap

— Ellen DeGeneres (@EllenDeGeneres) March 3, 2014

On the other hand, research indicates that immortalising the very real experience of an event or its “vibe” could be two major reasons behind a selfie. As an example, imagine someone attending a vibrant music festival with a friend. They could capture a photo of the lively concert crowd, documenting the energetic & joyous vibe of the event. On the other hand, opting for a selfie with their friend captures not just the external spectacle but the shared connection and the memories made in the foreground of pulsating beats and lively performances.

With 2,113 participants spread over 6 experiments, the research explored the perspective one captures in selfies. The study showed that when participants found more meaning in the event, they were more inclined to take a selfie. Another study’s results showed that when participants were in the photo, they connected it to the larger meaning of the moment. In contrast, pictures capturing the scene from their viewpoint were linked to the physical experience of the moment. Finally, another interesting result to think about was that when the selfie-taker’s idea of what to capture turned out to not reflect in the photo’s perspective, they found the selfie less appealing. For instance, if the goal was to show the vibe, they would rather not have a selfie which shows them upfront, but be passively in the image, as a third person character in candids.

Why do people take selfies?

Vanity/Narcissism, the popular belief of the why of selfies, does not seem to hold as a very strong reason in research. Some research has not found any and some have found, a significant but small connection between this emotion and the act of taking a selfie. There are different kinds of selfie distributions observed in studies, some show how men take more of them while others try to correlate the frequency with personality types. As an example, some studies find that narcissistic individuals take more selfies with just them in the photos and try to avoid “groupies” or “wefies”. Few studies directly explore the why.

Read More: The Psychology Behind Viral Trends and Why We Follow Them

As described in the above section, research talks about what it is that people want to capture in these photos. They challenge the idea that the goal is purely self-promotion on social media and find that it is more about the perspective that they want to naturally preserve in different ways. Similarly, Koterba et al. studied (250+ college students) how not all parts that compose narcissism are directly involved in taking a selfie.

Narcissism is broken down into 3 component traits to make personality-based research more quantifiable. They are Authority (The emotion of wanting control over others), Grandiose Exhibitionism (Drawing attention and showing off), and Entitlement (The willingness to take advantage of others to gain special privileges one feels deserving of). A questionnaire to study these individual components was completed by the participants, resulting in showing that Grandiose Exhibitionism was the only marginally linked component to solo selfies. While Narcissism was marginally a more common motive in a different reading of the experiment, two very close motives were Sharing and connecting and Functional Use (like ads/revenue generation because of professional requirements).

Conclusion

As selfies keep trending in our digital culture, we show how the motives behind them are more intricate than a simple narrative of narcissism. While narcissism has popularly been singled out as a major reason, research reveals a diverse spectrum of reasons that individuals engage in selfie culture. The impact of selfies, as explored in the broader context of communication and identity expression, goes beyond just self-obsession.

Read More: The Psychology Behind Celebrity Obsession

Selfies offer a platform for individuals to stay connected with others, express their personalities, and share experiences, fostering intimacy and maintaining relationships. There are discussions about how selfies impact communication and connection, self-expression, and mental health, revealing an important and broad influence spectrum. The act of taking selfies, as revealed by research, can sometimes be a manifestation of complex emotional states, where individuals seek affirmation and connection in the digital realm. Thus one could also study the nuances of vulnerability, self-esteem, and body positivity, which may not exclusively point to narcissism.

Read More: The Psychology Behind Compliments

In conclusion, the selfie culture is a complex social artefact woven with various digital and psychological threads, representing different motives and implications. While narcissism may play a role, it is just one element In the broader cultural phenomenon. As we navigate this era of self-captured moments, recognizing the diverse and sometimes unexpected reasons behind selfies, be open for a more comprehensive discussion on their cultural, psychological, and societal significance and click away!

The post The Psychology Behind Selfies appeared first on Psychologs Magazine | Mental Health Magazine | Psychology Magazine | Self-Help Magazine.

Whether it be the classic prank of rickrolling or the ice bucket challenge, the new dance challenges that emerge every week, lip sync videos to viral songs, making edits of one’s favourite TV series characters, or making ‘girl math’ tweets, there are very few who can claim that they haven’t participated in internet trends.

Read: how can one be an expert in social-emotional Learning?

It might seem a mystery as to why some songs and dances become a trend on TikTok and Instagram, videos and posts get over a million views on Facebook and Whatsapp, and photos and edits become a meme on Twitter. But, there’s rhyme and reason to this virality. Psychologists have conducted extensive research on Social Networking Sites, the Internet, and what makes us participate in viral trends. Let’s look into the mechanisms of how content becomes viral, and why we follow trends!

1. Positive Response in the Brain

The simplest and foremost reason why people share viral content is because it can be an emotional release. Posting videos and content on social media or sending links to friends can act as a channel to process their emotions and feelings. In psychologist Jonah Berger’s words – “Arousal is an aversive state, so people want to get out of it by sharing.” As long as following trends is concerned, it triggers a positive response in the brain. Social media is entertaining, and people feel good about being able to make other people laugh. People also find it to be a great avenue for self-expression. Additionally, replicating a social media trend can also have an element of challenge, which can lead to fulfilment.

2. Social belonging

It is a widely known fact that humans are social animals; according to research, it is inherent to crave togetherness and belonging. Acceptance by our peers is a core determining factor of our well-being, and we strive to act in ways that improve the chances of this social acceptance. In modern times, pop culture has replaced our everyday interactions. Social Lives have come to be centred on entertainment rather than relationships. In a world revolving around entertainment, our way of communicating with one another is through sharing content and participating in trends on social media.

Participating in social media trends leads to social interaction and appreciation from others. Humans seek to forward and produce content that’s valuable and entertaining to others, which leads to a feeling of being more involved in what the world is doing and facilitates social belonging. Another closely related factor is FOMO or fear of missing out. Being unable to relate to a conversation about the latest Marvel movie or not knowing what went down in the latest Netflix show harms a person’s ability to interact with others, which is why FOMO is a big motivating factor to follow what’s trendy.

3. Social Identity and Status

Viewed from a lens of social psychology, popular trends are a manifestation of the in-group and out-group in their social identity theory. This theory, given by social psychologists Henri Tajfel and John Turner, examines how part of an individual’s self-concept is derived from their membership in social groups. Being in the in-group is desired, as a person sees themself as part of the “us,” while the out-group is the “other”.

In pop culture, the in-group is composed of the individuals who follow trends and the out-group is people who do not. Applying this to pop culture, explains why people follow trends set by celebrities. Since celebrities are at the centre of the in-group and are liked widely, they are seen as superior. Naturally, people desire to be more like them and imitate their clothing and other activities.

4. Information Sharing and Status

People also participate in trends and share content which they feel imparts valuable information. People use social media trends to get the word out on causes they care about. But there is a negative facet to this as well. Ego can also fuel the sharing of content. In a world where a person’s digital footprint is the first impression they make on people, they use content to fabricate their image online. People will post carefully selected videos or links, keeping in mind what it will do for their status. Researchers have found that people very often share articles on Twitter that they haven’t read themselves, merely to showcase they are informed.

5. Mental Shortcut

People are also inclined to follow trends because they act like mental shortcuts. Because social media trends and viral content are usually of a very short duration and one comes across it repeatedly, it becomes imprinted onto their brains. Following what others around them are doing saves the time and effort of the thought process required in decision-making.

Read: How overthinking can impact your decision-making?

This is often seen in “slacktivism” trends, in which people show their support for causes on social networking sites only because it is perceived trendy to do so, without actually carrying out the research on the topic or implementing any changes in their real lives to help the cause. An example of this could be people in great numbers posting black squares on Instagram to support the #BlackLivesMatter campaign without remedying their racist behaviours or calling out racism they might encounter.

6. Perceived Skill

Research has revealed that a reason for people participating in trends is that it provides them with a sense of accomplishment. Social media trends, especially those that involve mastering a new recipe (Dalgona coffee during COVID-19 quarantine) or learning a new skill (the increasing popularity of crochet, or new dance routines), make people feel like they are being productive and acquiring new skills.

7. Novelty

The human brain is wired to seek novelty, and we are bound to get tired of seeing the same old ideas over and over again. Research has established that seeing something new triggers reward pathways in our brains. This is why new content on social media feeds works so well in catching our attention. Thus, it is easy to understand the motivation behind doing trends new in our ways.

Conclusion

Social media is a powerful tool, with the ability to dynamically change someone’s future or to turn election results of a country. With endless content and infinite scrolling algorithms, it can keep you engaged forever. Although we have seen above how it can work positively by providing social acceptance and support, acting as an outlet for creativity, and acquiring new skills, spending too much time on social media must be viewed with apprehension. We mustn’t lose sight of our relationships in real life and devote adequate time to those as well. Therefore, grasping the motivation behind our attraction to social media trends and viral content can help us seek other ways to gratify those needs.

Read more Related Articles

• Social comparison in the age of social media
• Mental Health of Adolescents in India
• Gaming Addiction: Symptoms, Causes and Effects

The post The Psychology Behind Viral Trends and Why We Follow Them appeared first on Psychologs Magazine | Mental Health Magazine | Psychology Magazine | Self-Help Magazine.

Although technology has made work easier and faster, it has also increased the demands placed on students. Workers to respond quickly, meet endless agendas and addictively produce results to get ahead in the rat race. Saying that, it is normal for one to wonder how people fulfill their need for social engage­ment and belongingness in the pres­ent times. Everyone figures a way out to find contentment. For some, it could be a personalised schedule one follows to call their dear ones every night. For most, a consistent and major resolution is provided by social media. Globally, social media users spend about 2.5 hours each day on these networking platforms.

What was initially a simple aid for social­izing with people has turned into a world of its own with polls, live ses­sions, digital communities and business markets spreading like wildfire. Social media is a general word for internet communication technologies. Which lets individuals communicate with one another by exchanging and receiving information. These include websites as well as applications, which are highly affordable in most places. As you must be aware, some of the most used applications are Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat. They facilitate collaborating and building relationships, both personal as well as professional.

In India, currently over 50% of the population invests time in social media (Keelery, 2020). It is interesting to note that in recent years, young people engage much more on In­stagram and Snapchat separating themselves from the older trend of Facebook. However, Facebook has become the land for elder people coasting through their fifties. One reasonable explanation for this development might be because older folks spent a lot of time and effort becoming familiar with Facebook’s interface. They do not have the need to move towards instagram as long as people of their age engage on Facebook. 

Another observation could be how digital socialization has absorbed yet anoth­er quality of real interactions which take place in communities. Take the example of a simple house party. In the beginning, the older and young­er adults sincerely exchange love and talks. The smaller children play alone as the celebration goes on. While the older children establish a conversational circle of their own. This is a plain analogy for how the Facebook and Instagram dy­namic played out. Unlike online virtual reality games, online social networks provide real-world interactions. They have real emotional and social impact.

Though a virtual entity, social me­dia has become a crucial component of our social world. These days, it is absolutely common to hear about couples getting married after meeting on social media or physical fights breaking out subsequent to an internet squabble. Through the years, people have identified numerous pros and cons of social media. It has indeed made it very easy to reach out to people, spread necessary in­formation (we are basically surviv­ing COVID-19 because of it), aid shy or otherwise laconic individuals to make friends.

It has indeed made it very easy to reach out to people, spread necessary in­formation (we are basically surviv­ing COVID-19 because of it), aid shy or otherwise laconic individuals to make friends. At the same time, it has major privacy concerns, inappro­priate content and is a serious con­stant source of distraction. Despite the fact that there is a great deal of knowledge regarding the issue. Individuals frequently avoid discussing how “expectation-based” it may be. A group be­havioural perspective shows that digital interactions are not very different from the social reality. We have always experi­enced, the one with its inhibiting factors of conformity.

This is yet another strong social phenomenon of on-ground com­munity interactions which seems to be functioning on these internet networks now. Expectations carve norms. Social norms, also known as perceived standards of proper behaviour, serve as a guide for community members and let them know what is expected of them. These ex­pectations influence people’s thoughts, emotions and actions. It is liberating to think of social media platforms as showcases of individuality and raw, hon­est self-expression. However, it may be time for us to re-evaluate the extent to which such authenticity exists.

For example, the most active users of social media are the content creators, whose business depends on the image and products they promote. These creators usually control the kind of content which goes viral and influences other us­ers who interact with them as spectators or consumers. Hereon, a vicious circle begins- The influencers are hesitant to reveal more of their unfiltered self. Because they fear losing followers, and the following users are naturally entangled in the ongoing trend. This is to say that social media creates social norms and a pres­sure to conform, much like the social groups do in real spaces.
Although norms determine be­haviour on an individual level, they can predict the future shifts in overall group behaviour. Con­sider two ordinary occurrences. In the first, a celebrity posts their vulnerable side, or when a social rebellion erupts and people are patronized if they don’t engage about it online. in particular, if the risk of breaking out of the social norm of perfection works well, the celebrity is dispropor­tionately praised for being hon­est, sharing their struggles and sen­sitivities- and then talking about your weaknesses on social media becomes more acceptable.

In the second case, the people who do not participate in expressing their emotions about top­ics. Everyone is furious about are ver­bally attacked on digital media to the point where they either consciously or subconsciously conform, or quit using the platform for sometime. As these instances reflect, social norms can work out wonderfully to bring change and make our society more progres­sive. Alternately, they can easily be hostile forces feeding misunderstand­ings and bitterness.

In every social space, norms can be descriptive, injunctive, prescriptive, proscriptive or subjective. Descrip­tive norms help members under­stand what happens and injunctive ones guide about what should happen. Prescriptive and proscriptive norms indicate what one should and should not do, respectively. With informal communities comprising people’s personal Instagram accounts, these norms are usually unwritten, and are continuously evolving. Subjective norms take their lion’s share of toll on the members of these communities. Many expend great energy to notice and match what’s being welcomed and validated. As with most other psy­chological phenomena, this process takes place unknowingly. Break­ing out of it takes conscious effort. A holistic view is necessary.

Social norms have their own pros and cons just like social media does. Sociable standards are important for survival because they make newcomers feel safer and more at ease as they learn to navigate unfamiliar territory. Social norms often establish the bulk of moral principles that contribute to maintaining a basic level of peace in society. It of course comes at the cost of losing parts of one’s individuality, increased de­pendency and consequent hazards. In case the influential members of the group advance an unjustified so­cial norm.

In a nutshell, people don’t need to resent normative behaviour all together; they can’t. As an alternative, it’s critical to recognise that social influences and their effects are not just visible in real-world social settings but also online. It can be useful to be mindful when one is acting according to how they believe. Other people expect them to behave. Being in concordance with others’ ex­pectation is not wrong per se, as long as it is not the only cause behind an action.

The post Social Media and its social Norms appeared first on Psychologs Magazine | Mental Health Magazine | Psychology Magazine | Self-Help Magazine.

A suicide is an unexpected and avoidable death. A serious public health concern that impacts countless lives and entire communities worldwide is suicide. Several social, economic, cultural, and psychological factors have contributed to India’s high suicide rate in recent years, underscoring the urgent need to comprehend and address this complicated issue. Throughout the world, 800,000 people died by suicide each year. The suicide rate per lakh in India was 12 in 2021, which was the highest since 1967. Suicide claimed the lives of 164,033 Indians in that year.

Suicide Prevention:

Every suicide accidental death is a tragedy that can be prevented with prompt interventions, education, and awareness-building.

1. Fostering Mental Health Awareness: Preventing suicide requires increasing public knowledge of mental health issues. Conversations about mental health are becoming more commonplace thanks in large part to education programmes that fight stigma and promote open dialogue.
2. Create Safe Environments: Everyone must establish a welcoming and safe atmosphere. demonstrating compassion and empathy for others who are experiencing hardship. Limit the number of life-threatening instruments available to people who might consider suicide.
3. Recognising Warning Symptoms: Preventing suicide requires early detection of warning symptoms. Frequent indicators include abrupt behavioural shifts, social disengagement, heightened substance misuse, or expressing depressing emotions.
4. Accessible Mental Health Treatments: Reducing suicide rates requires having readily available mental health treatments. Mental health illnesses should be covered by health insurance policies. The development of mental health infrastructure must be given top priority by governments and healthcare organizations. Increase the number of crisis intervention programs and helplines to provide prompt, remote access to support for people in need.

Helplines:

1. AASRA (91 9820466726): A 24/7 hotline offering assistance and prevention to those in need.
2. Snehi (91 91-5509090): A hotline offering counselling and emotional assistance to women.
3. Vandrevala Foundation (9999-666-555): This hotline offers expert assistance with mental health support counselling.
4. I-Call (022-25521111): This helpline provides mothers, kids, and teenagers with therapeutic services.
5. Roshni (+91 9166202000): A helpline offering emotional assistance and therapy for individuals in.
   

Read More Articles:

• Student suicides brought the city of Kota into a state of shock
• Country’s First Suicide Prevention Policy Will Be Implemented In Madhya Pradesh
• Suicide Prevention: A quintessential service for modern times

The post Asim Jamil, son of Maulana Tariq Jamil, died appeared first on Psychologs Magazine | Mental Health Magazine | Psychology Magazine | Self-Help Magazine.

Also Read: Effects of social media on children’s mental health

What is social media misuse?

Improper usage of social media, engaging in illegal activities like sharing false information, cyberbullying, morphing, and violation of privacy are known as social media misuse.

Understanding The Risk Factors:

1. Cyberbullying: The repetition of abuse, online threats, and harassment, toward other individuals or groups of individuals. It often happens whenever one tries to upset another individual. Photos and videos of the victim are also dont taken down even when they are asked to which makes the situation of the person more worse. Cyberbullying among students is very common. Around 33% of students faced online bullying. This has had a negative impact on their mental health as well. It includes many disorders like eating disorders, depression, etc.
2. Sharing false information: Every day, we come across false information about people on social media. False information is when someone makes a false or fabricated story about someone eventually leading to confusion and mislead.
3. Morphing: Changing the photo into another through a smooth transition. Deep fake is also altering a video and changing the image into another which causes the sharing of false information. According to Deep Media, 500,000 videos and voice deep fakes were shared on social media.
4. Privacy violation: nowadays privacy has become a very important concern on social media all over the world. 14% of people experienced privacy violations on social media. Privacy violation leads to the unwanted exposure of individual personal information. This is a compromise with users’ privacy.

Also Read: Social comparison in the age of Social media

Why do social media privacy is important?

Since so many people around the world are using social media networking sites like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, sometimes its users are vulnerable to all these privacy violations. As social media is accessible to all, the concern for individual privacy has also become an important question.

Social misuse is becoming a worrisome topic for everyone as it can lead to many problems like identity theft, stalking, learning bad habits, mental health issues among teenagers.

What Are The Risks?

All these threats lead to a negative impact on the society.

Identity Theft And Stalking:

One of the serious threats associated with social media misuse is identity theft. Financial fraud and scams are some of the common activities that happen in it. Identity theft happens when someone steals personal information mainly the info related to bank credit cards and social security numbers. It includes watching and following someone without their consent. Stalking possesses all potential harm be it physical or mental harm. These days stalkers’ work has become very easy as mutual friends and acquaintances tell about the person, like their locations, the photgraphs, etc. Creating a fake account has become a very common thing for stalkers. According to a study, around 45% of Instagram are found to be fake.

Also Read: Influence of the Influencer: Behind the Social Media Curation

Loss Of Private Information And Learning Bad Habits:

Mostly the information is leaked when there is a lack of awareness among the people. The most vulnerable age group who experiences this is generally the youngsters. Social media provides a space for expressing yourself and building your relationship with others, but sometimes it can be used against the users. Therefore, it becomes the duty of their teachers, parents, or siblings to make them aware of the possible threats related to social media. Moreover, Many teenagers post whatever they want to without knowing the consequences. As so many influencers are making content and influencing people, mainly youngsters, Teenagers also follow them and start doing whatever they are doing. Many people post their photos and videos with alcohol and share their opinions on drugs which inspires these teenagers to follow them and get addicted to it.

Raising Mental Issues Among Youngsters And Hacking:

Social media has become a platform where everyone wants to look beautiful and the introduction of many filters and editing also made things possible. However, it gave rise to unexpected beauty standards which affect teenagers’ self-esteem and confidence. It rules out the idea of natural beauty in many ways. All this leads to a negative impact on youngsters’ mental health. Therefore, many teenagers start starving themselves just to look slim and fit. This is one of the common activities on social media. Hackers can get to know about individual passwords by posting personal information on their accounts.

Deepfakes:

Deepfaking can be a huge threat to people online on the web as it is one of the most heinous crimes one can commit on social media faking someone’s identity is mostly done by media through pictures and videos. With the rise of AI, these kinds of activities have elevated to a new level never seen before. Most celebrities were a victim of deepfaking but because of AI, common people are falling victim to these acts.

Also Read: Social Media Is Giving Negative Impacts on Mental Health

How To Protect From Social Media Misuse?

However, it is possible to prevent social media misuse by making changes in our security settings. Some of the effective ways are:

1. Setting A Strong Password: It has been seen that setting a strong password for your social media gets less chance of being hacked. Try to don’t use the same passwords on different social media sites.
2. Change Your Account To Private: If you are using Instagram, always make sure that you change your account setting to private. As it will make sure to control what other people can see.
3. Avoid Clicking on Unknown Links: Whenever we use social media, we come across many links that may look attractive to us, and clicking on them results in the loss of personal information.
4. Don’t Accept Stranger’s Requests: Avoid accepting a friend request from strangers as it can be harmful to your account. Be sure that the user is someone you know already.
5. Be Mindful of What You Share: Teenagers don’t think twice before posting anything on social media. It is important to be mindful when sharing a photo as a revealing photo can become a potential threat for the users.
6. Stay Informed About Social Media Policies: It is important to be regularly informed about the new policies that social media introduced as it will help to avoid any possible threats of social media misuse in the future.

Here are some books written on the social media and its uses:

• Twittering Machine
• The Age of Surveillance Capitalism
• Tweets and the Streets

The post Social Media Misuse And Its Impact On Personal Privacy appeared first on Psychologs Magazine | Mental Health Magazine | Psychology Magazine | Self-Help Magazine.

‘Don’t define your world in black and white, because there is so much hiding among the grays.’

The world is made up of opposites. Like hot-cold, sweet-sour, male-females and the list keeps on going and these dualities are most clearly divided at the broad extremes. But life is not always about black and white but about grey. Black and white are seen as the comfort zone and grey a danger zone. This is because the society never taught us that it’s fine to possess the qualities of grey and have grey areas in the life. What we believe and affirm to is that day is with light and the night is without light.

Related: Living an Authentic life: Is it worth it?

But, there are those in-between times called dusk and dawn where it is quite difficult to say if it is actually a day or a night. Whenever the sun goes down do you officially call it evening? When before the sun breaks the skyline do you call it daytime? These are unsettled focuses in the world to the majority of us however that show there are grey areas even in our physical world that we can only see when we connect with our restricting qualities and nature.

If you are ever in a state where you are dealing with any grey areas no matter where you are with your grey areas you should always remember that you are not so far that you can’t figure it out and it’s never too late for the things to settle down. You do not need to be labelled or feel broken because of the fact that you’re dealing with some stuff or problem in your life that is creating hindrances.

Related: 15 Interesting Ways to Be Productive In Life

Life is not a bed of roses nor is it a bed of thorns. Happy and sad moments both are a part of life, but what matters the most is how do you prepare yourself for it in the time that is between sad and happy, never feel that you’re facing pain always or there is no success at all in your life, then life becomes useless for you. Everything takes its own time, and things will fall into place.

We all possess a choice about what we can control and what all we cannot. Exercise upon the action of what we know is right to do as per our knowledge. That is the biggest asset we all have in our lives when it comes to the grey areas. It’s very easy for us to label something as good or bad so we carry on to do so without giving a thought about it and figuring out that what it really is.

Thinking in extremes can cause more negativity in our lives It’s okay to feel your feelings, we all are meant to feel different emotions as humans. Hiding behind the mask or bearing the blinders only keeps the problems alive in your life and we won’t be able to overcome it if we will certain the same thinking.

Related: Why living a simple life is so underrated?

There are certain Truths that we should learn and always keep in mind to Embrace the Grey areas in our life:

• You should never ever be afraid when it comes to speaking about your life struggles nor you should hide your feelings.
• We all have the ability to make empowering decisions that could lead to amazing results, all it requires is to focus.
• It is possible to get ultimate joy, happiness, peace, and gratitude all it requires is hard and honest work.
• You possess the power and capacity to decide your future by making your present fruitful.
• You should always remember that if you need little help, you are never falling apart.
• Alcohol, prescription or recreational drugs aren’t required to you for relaxing.
• The number of likes, friends or followers on social media does not matter.
• You’re not required to settle for the desiring second best or mediocrity.
• Whatever you have achieved from your hard work, you really deserve it.
• You are not required to work yourself to the grave.
• Living a happy life is not as tough as it might feel.

The way we can overcome our grey areas is through self-acceptance

Acceptance plays a very important role in our lives. Accept that life is not a mathematics equation, where either the answer would be right or wrong but rather it is an adventurous journey, which will include both good and bad times. Accept that your life is not going to be the same as your cousins, or neighbours, or friends and or any other people. You will have your own joys and sorrows of life.

Accept that there will be times when you have to choose among things, and there will be times when you will have the clutter of problems but all you should remember throughout this is that accepting the present and working for a better future will help you sail through everything. Ultimately you will glow out of your problems. Life will give you both the happy and the sad challenges.

Related: Psychological reason behind future goals

We waste so much time thinking about what is right and what is wrong during this we miss the things that are being offered to us in the present moment. Life will have its both negatives and positives and one should accept both of them with equal intensity. The moment you start embracing, its complexities will be the moment you will start living. The biggest acceptance which we have to make is that life is lived in shades of gray.

The post Is Life All About Black And White Or Is It Grey? appeared first on Psychologs Magazine | Mental Health Magazine | Psychology Magazine | Self-Help Magazine.

When one person does something unpleasant in an online capacity, to another on purpose, a couple of times, with the intention of upsetting the other person, it is called cyberbullying. Cyberbullying can occur through social networking sites (such as Facebook or Instagram), or even text messaging or email. Cyberbullying has been a problem for a long time. One in four young people will experience cyberbullying at some time in their life. Because cyberbullying is constantly evolving as a result of new information and telecommunications platforms. There is disagreement among researchers that study cyberbullying on the best terminology to use.

The negative effects of cyberbullying can be physical, psychological, or academic in nature. While the cyberbully/ victim category bearing the brunt of the burden. Cyber victims have higher rates of depression and anxiety, as well as refusal to attend school and declining academic performance. These students are also more likely to report headaches, stomachaches, bedwetting, and a variety of other psychosomatic complaints.

The nature of cyberbullying varies by gender; girls are more likely to post hurtful comments online. Whereas boys are more likely to post hurtful pictures or videos online. According to the Cyberbullying Research Centre in the United States. There are numerous reasons why the dysphoric outcomes of cyberbullying differ from and potentially exceed those of traditional bullying. Computer-based communications.

For example, are much more permanent than verbal responses since they are retained in websites, internet archives, search engine caches, and user devices; it is easier to make hurtful, humiliating, or endangering statements on the Internet due to the comparative difficulty in accurately detecting the misbehavior and offending party, proving or verifying the act of wrong doing because of the ubiquity of computers and cell phones, as well as the “always-connected” lives that today’s adolescents lead, Internet victimisation is omnipresent beyond the school, playground, or neighbourhood; the youth is increasingly adopting new communication mediums and devices, and as a result, the pool of alternative offenders and victims is increasing rapidly (Hinduja 2010).

In the Indian context, the risk of cyberbullying is increasing year by year as a result of increased access to technology, low-cost internet plans, and politicians zealously pursuing and pushing the dream of “Digital India,” making its assessment and prevention even more urgent. The vast majority of the population now has access to the Internet via a computer, a tablet, or, more commonly, a mobile device. Our children and teenagers are the most vulnerable members of this population, as they are being thrown into cyberspace before they are psychologically capable of making sense of it.

According to Microsoft’s Global Youth Online behaviour Survey, India ranks third in cyberbullying, with 53 percent of respondents, mostly children, admitting to having experienced online bullying, trailing only China and Singapore (Anuradha Shetty, 2012). Children and adolescents are naturally inquisitive and, more often than not, more technologically competent than adults. The majority of these children who are exploring the Internet are not old enough to detect or understand the risks and consequences of their own online behaviour.

Psychological Impact of Cyberbullying:

Cyberbullying may have serious consequences for kids, including anxiety and PTSD, especially if they are susceptible to mental health concerns. A nasty remark, a hateful comment, an embarrassing photo or video, pranks, spreading rumors, pretending to be someone else, threatening messages or phone calls are all examples of cyberbullying.

While some of these activities might seem harmless, children and teens who fall prey to these might suffer from grave mental health issues. (Nixon, 2018) Cyberbullying, unlike traditional bullying, which is frequently limited to school and known bullies, can happen at any time of day or night and is conducted by anonymous sources.

This makes it more violent, at times, and vicious. The intensity of the consequences of victimisation might vary depending on the type of victimisation. According to one study, harassment experienced via text message or phone call was more harmful than harassment experienced via online images and posts. Unsurprisingly, a significant source of stress in young people’s life is cyberbullying. Studies show that 32% of kids who experience cyberbullying say they have experienced at least one indicator of stress. They might even feel responsible for being a victim of cyberbullying. Children are aware that once something exists, it will always exist. They may feel humiliated, exposed, and overwhelmed. When someone cyberbullies, they could send a lot of people insulting postings, mails, or SMS. (Extremera 2018)

Social Impact:

Schools may exclude and scorn children who are victims of cyberbullying. People frequently feel alone and isolated as a result. The importance of friendships at this age makes this more unpleasant. However, for many children, using these devices is the most significant means of communication. Turning them off typically means cutting them off from the rest of the world, making them feel more isolated. (Alavi et al,2017)

Emotional Impact:

Many cyberbullying victims will experience anger as a result of their experience. In fact, studies suggest that anger is the most typical response to cyberbullying (followed by being upset and worried). Unfairly treated children may prepare to avenge themselves. Aside from the potential for conflict, this is risky since it can trap them in the bully-victim cycle. It is sometimes more difficult said than done to forgive a bully, even if it is generally preferable than taking revenge. Speaking with a counsellor or therapist who can show them how to channel their wrath in healthy ways may be helpful for a youngster who is upset by cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying victims frequently struggle to feel safe. They may feel helpless and vulnerable. These ideas typically arise because via a computer or mobile device, online bullying can invade their home at any time of day. They no longer have a safe haven to flee to. Cyberbullying can feel like it’s all around you if you’re a victim. Although some cyberbullies choose people they know and have no issue identifying themselves. Some targeted teenagers might not be aware of the person responsible for their pain. (Ybarra et al, 2007)

Academic Impact:

Bullying causes them to regularly miss school far more frequently than other children. They might skip class to avoid being cyberbullied by other students or because the remarks they heard were degrading and embarrassing. As a result of their inability to focus or study, their grades can decrease. In rare circumstances, children may stop attending school altogether or lose interest in pursuing a post-high school degree. Cyberbullying victims have been known to damage themselves in some way as a result of their overwhelming feelings. 

For instance, some persons may burn or slash themselves as a form of self-harm. Bullying and self-harm have been related in several studies. Cyberbullying also makes people more likely to commit suicide. Teenagers who experience peer bullying on a regular basis through text messages, instant messaging, social media, or apps may feel hopeless and think that the only way to end their suffering is to commit suicide. As a result, individuals can fantasise about dying to get away. (Andrea Baroncelli, 2014)

Prevalence:

Despite the fact that popular social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have minimum age requirements for joining. There are many children join these platforms by misrepresenting their age. Primarily because these platforms do not have any stringent guidelines for the age limit of joining. The Intel Security Teens, Tweens, and Technology Study released its findings in 2015 after performing in India over a five-year period, and found that 81% of kids between the ages of 8 and 16 actively engage on social media. Before the age of 13, nearly 77 percent of these children had a Facebook account. Almost 22% of these children, or one in every five, are victims of online abuse (Shruti Dhapola,2021). These 2015 figures are concerning, and we can only speculate on what they might be now.

Indian parents typically warn their children about strangers on the street. However, individuals hardly ever do so or even think to be concerned about it, despite the critical necessity to apply the same strategy to online behaviour. Cyberbullying has gained international attention as a result of an increase in reports of cases involving self-harm and suicide as well as distressing media headlines like “Two preteens arrested for cyberbullying after student kills herself.”

For example, mainstream Australian politicians are putting ideas for an “anti-cyberbullying taskforce” on the national agenda. The real-time debate about policymaking and guidelines to combat cyberbullying is taking place in parliament. According to one theory, the more people who witness an emergency crime, the less likely any of them will feel obligated to respond. The Bystander Effect is yet another name for it. In the case of cyberbullying, hundreds to thousands of people may regularly witness bullying or harsh criticism online but fail to intervene.

Furthermore, just as most social media platforms use social analytics to create algorithms that estimate user age, gender, and political leanings. There are actual mathematical algorithms to detect antisocial behaviour, bullying, or harassment online. These algorithms employ simple parameters to assess the content (words like “bitch,” “hate,” and “die”), direction, interval, and frequency of bullying. In order to assess whether a kid is being cyberbullied, law enforcement organisations, schools, and parents can utilise this strategy. In addition to bullying children, cyberbullying also frequently targets adults.

Cyberbullies, also known as trolls on the internet, who operate anonymously, have the ability to abuse and harass a person without fear of repercussions. Politicians, celebrities, and sportsmen are frequently the targets of cyberbullying, which upsets them as they report. However, there are no clear laws or regulatory guidelines in place to address this complex issue. Mainstream national TV channels are recognising the importance of this issue. In today’s world and are launching campaigns and programmes such as “Troll Police.” (Mitchell and Hoff, 2009).

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It will become very hard for them to accept and regularize the full truth, of which they were unaware until now. In the world of social media, it’s very important for us as citizens to be socially aware citizens of the nation. To do so, we humans have to be a little more wise when liking, sharing, or posting any information.

Also Read: Exploring the propaganda: Men aren’t from Mars and Women aren’t from Venus

What is propagandism?

It refers to the publication of information, facts, and arguments to influence people who are not complete in nature or only half-truths or pieces of information, represented as full information, fact, or reality. It is mostly shared with people or groups of people through social media (newspapers, television, blogs, What’s App, Facebook, YouTube, etc.). In simple words, it is the selective representation of facts instead of objective information to encourage people to change their attitude, thoughts, behavior, or opinion.

What is the purpose of propaganda?

The purpose of propaganda is to intelligently control the conduct of individuals and groups to follow non-rational emotional drives. Through propaganda, propagandists convince the audience to believe what they want them to believe and can manipulate other people’s responses. Repetition is used as an effective technique to enhance the impact of propaganda more widely and deeply. Gradually, the audience starts living and believing in the propaganda-generated information and standing up for it.

4 basic principles of propaganda:

1. It relies on emotions, never on full facts, information, or arguments.
2. Cast propaganda into the pattern of ‘we’ versus an ‘enemy’
3. To reach groups as well as individuals to enhance its impact
4. Hide the propagandist as much as possible (to present is more as fact and manipulating the response easily).

Also Read: What is Political Psychology?

Differences between propaganda and persuasion

1. The main difference between propaganda and persuasion is that propaganda is a one-sided argument, opinion, or fact aimed at maintaining power and controlling public opinion and response. Whereas persuasion is aimed at informing the audience about a particular issue or piece of advice,.
2. Persuasion is a much more conscious attempt by an individual to change another person’s belief or response, whereas in propaganda, people are often unaware of when they get influenced by the propaganda.
3. Persuasion is characterized by private acceptance of the position advocated in the message. Whereas in the case of propaganda, people in public comply with the behavior urged of them, but privately, they reject the position advocated in the message.
4. Propaganda provides limited alternatives, such as two different extremes, like a person having no choice except these two options. It represents information in a black-and-white manner, whereas in persuasion, people have more options to choose from, and they are advised to choose one option among many as that option serves the aim more competently.

Also Read: Why should we talk about Media Framing?

What is the propaganda effect?

Humans create change because of their exposure to information and experience. When any information deeply affects their inherited fear, belief, or insecurities, it gets expressed in their behavior, thoughts, and attitude. Similar things happen with the propaganda effect. The propaganda effect is when a person (subject) is more likely to respond to the statement they were exposed to in the past as being true. Or simply because they were exposed to it, they think it’s the truth. The propaganda effect is a result of priming.

Famous propaganda techniques:

1) Information overload:

People can attend to a certain limit of information at a certain time, and when they are exposed to too much information, a reduction in their decision quality will occur. An overload of information prompts disengagement. A similar situation happens with these propaganda techniques. When propaganda information comes with high intensity and frequency, people find it hard to get more engaged in decision-making and reflection of the information and to agree with the aim of the propaganda.

2) Transfer:

Transfer propaganda is also known as association. In this propaganda technique, symbolism plays a decisive role as it pushes the audience to establish a connection to the said product, object, value, or person. It is a technique of projecting positive or negative qualities of them onto another in order to make the second more acceptable or to discredit it. This propaganda connects people’s fear or apprehension with a person, object, or product that can drive away the fear.

3) Glittering generalities propaganda:

This propaganda pushes the audience to support an idea, product, person, or nation to make it stand out in the crowd. Positive beliefs or desires are incorporated to manipulate people’s responses, and people get triggered by such positive beliefs and desires.

Also Read: What Is The Psychology Behind Hate?

4) Bandwagon propaganda:

These propaganda appeals attempt to persuade the target audience to join in and take the course of action that everyone else is taking. This propaganda gives people the impression that this trend is fashionable or popular. People often respond to such propaganda when they are unsure about the best way to promote an idea.

5) Card stacking propaganda:

Card stacking is a widely practiced propaganda technique nowadays, especially in communication initiatives. This agenda glorifies one point of view while downloading another, thereby creating blind spots. This ultimately drives the audience to prioritize the positive aspects of a product, idea, or party over everything else. This propaganda showcases or stockspreads the best features and quality of the product while concealing the not-so-good ones.

6) Stereotyping propaganda:

This propaganda either supports or challenges the stereotype. Stereotypes are assumptions or ideas regarding a group that apply to specific people. The target audience here are the people who want to be associated with the stereotype or feel targeted by it.

7) Testimonial propaganda:

This is a straight-forward tactic that attempts to discredit the people’s ideas and does not give them the opportunity to consider evidence. In this propaganda, often well-known or reputable personalities are used to strengthen the message. This technique uses a sophisticated promotional strategy to enhance demand for your product or idea.

8) Plain folks propaganda:

Sometimes simple anecdotes can trigger the audience’s emotions considerably and may even drive them to manipulate their response. This plain folks propaganda technique makes use of this power and projects regular people in their presentation to demonstrate that they value the service or product.

The post The Psychology Behind Propaganda appeared first on Psychologs Magazine | Mental Health Magazine | Psychology Magazine | Self-Help Magazine.

Sociocultural elements play a villainous role in maintaining the toxic idea that “thin is the way to go”.  Additionally, it is also important to note that eating disorders go beyond the notion of hyperfixing on weight, rather it is a battle with underlying triggers that are associated with depression, self-harming thoughts and behaviour, traumatic experiences, interpersonal conflicts, substance use, low self-esteem, and feelings of anxiety. Many mental health professionals argue that the media not only falsely represents eating disorders but it also glamorizes them.

Through this article, we wish to highlight two observations. First, how pop culture (collection of ideas, practices, beliefs, images, objects, and phenomena that are prevalent and widely accepted within mainstream society at a given point in time) misrepresents eating disorders. Secondly, we wish to touch upon how easy accessibility to the internet exposes the population to toxic ideas of the body and further equates thinness as the ideal body shape. 

Defining Eating Disorders

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM-5 classifies eating disorders as a severe disturbance in eating behaviour that is linked to distressing thoughts and emotions. They are associated with behaviours like obsession over body weight, body shape, and the type of food being consumed. Other behaviours commonly linked with eating disorders are binge eating and purging, self-induced vomiting, consuming laxatives, and obsessive exercising. 

Read More: Influence of the Influencer: Behind the Social Media Curation

The DSM-5 is used to categorise eating disorders, such as Bulimia Nervosa and Anorexia Nervosa. Severe dietary restrictions and a false perception of body weight are hallmarks of anorexia nervosa, which results in low body weight. Binge-Eating Disorder is characterised by recurrent episodes of binge eating. Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders include discomfort linked to food, body image, and eating behaviours. Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a newly defined eating disorder characterised by high pickiness and a chronic inability to achieve nutritional needs due to an eating disturbance.

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) (2015), conducted a survey and found that around 2% of the Indian population suffers from eating disorders. Another study) conducted in 2018 found that eating disorders affected 6.5% of adolescent girls in India. Many other studies have stated that the prevalence of eating disorders amongst women is higher (Eating Disorder Awareness Week in India 2023, 2023). However, there comes a lot of stigma and misapprehension regarding eating disorders because of which a lot of cases remain unreported.  This means that the statistics on the prevalence of eating disorders in India might be higher. 

The Thin Ideal: Media, Influencers, and Society’s Impact on Body Image and ED

The inadequate discourse on eating disorders in society indeed fosters misconceptions and stigma, affecting both the younger generation and the general public. While textbooks and formal education touch on the subject, the limited space in textbooks restricts the depth of understanding that can be conveyed. Young individuals are exposed to a barrage of images and ideas that glorify unrealistic beauty standards, promoting thinness as an ideal. This stark contradiction between what is learned through formal education and what is seen on social media only deepens the misunderstandings surrounding eating disorders.

Influencers Media

Influencers, celebrities, and social media see “fit” to be synonymous with “thinness.” This propagates the idea of thinness being the ideal standard of the body. These influencers promote diets, workouts, and lifestyles that may not be sustainable or healthy for everyone.  The constant exposure to these views can have a  damaging effect on one’s view of the body and can lead to unhealthy behaviours. 

Body shapers are popularly endorsed by many influencers. This is especially so when research has stated that clothing that is too tight, constricts the internal organs and can lead to health problems. Body shapers and corsets promise a temporary illusion of the ideal body shape, but the risks they pose to one’s well-being are significant. 

In India and many other cultures, the term “fat” is used as an insult or is considered taboo. This notion is also portrayed in films and other media. This perpetuates the idea that thinness is virtuous and should be strived to achieve. Such societal pressures can lead to individuals pursuing unhealthy weight loss methods, including crash diets and excessive exercise, which can trigger or worsen eating disorder.

Advertisements

Advertisements about detox teas, weight loss supplements and various diet products are often presented as the gateway to happiness. They often depict the before-and-after images, often depicting someone as unhappy and overweight before they magically transform into a gleeful and svelte individual. 

The consequence of these ads is the reinforcement of unrealistic ideas that one’s happiness and self-worth are tied to their weight or appearance. In the media, the portrayal of different body types remains problematic and is far from inclusive and accurate.  

From hiring actors who do not have the body type to represent a fat and curvy character’s role to stereotyping curvy individuals with roles specifically for comedic relief, all of these themes are prevalent in pop culture and contribute to stigmatization. 

Reality Shows

Reality shows about weight loss, such as The Biggest Loser, normalise the idea of changing one’s appearance to “fit in”. Most of the main characters in sitcoms and films are never fat. If characters like these do appear, they are often at the receiving end of negative remarks and jokes. On Friends, for example, the character of Monica is shown as being overweight in flashbacks and subjected to corny jokes.

Pop Culture’s Depiction of ED

If we focus solely on India’s pop culture, there is an absence of depiction of eating disorders in mainstream media. If they are even mentioned, they are just a peripheral issue, a mere experience of a side character, and are brushed off without being given any focus. 

Shefali Shah’s character in Dil Dhadakne Do to Aayushman Khurana in Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, the list is sadly not extensive. 

When we move to focus on Hollywood, it seems like the directors are focused on showing the struggle of a rich, thin white woman with eating disorders (particularly anorexia nervosa). Hollywood seems to have forgotten that discrimination is not an aspect of eating disorders. From Mean Girls’  depiction of Regina’s obsession with weight to the almost glamorised version of binge-eating in Gossip Girls, there is no lack of portrayal of eating disorders in Hollywood. 

These films can definitely do better. By extending the representation of eating disorders among different demographics, delving into eating disorders not usually shown on screen, and just making it uncomfortable to watch, the depiction of them would undoubtedly improve (Singh, 2023). Improving the depiction of eating disorders can be achieved by broadening representation across diverse demographics, exploring less commonly portrayed types of eating disorders, and making the subject matter uncomfortable to watch.

It is also easy to notice that these films and sitcoms make eating disorders a white woman’s problem. Depictions of eating disorders in Hollywood disproportionately feature characters who are heterosexual (75.56%), White (84.85%), female (89.39%), and under the age of 30 (84.85%). This portrayal does not authentically represent the demographic diversity of those affected by eating disorders (Bassett, 2023).

Conclusion 

Discussing these aspects of popular culture becomes important while discussing the topic of eating disorders because studies have shown that the widespread use of social media (that gives us access to pop culture) in teenagers and young adults could increase body dissatisfaction as well as their drive for thinness, therefore rendering them more vulnerable to eating disorders (Jiotsa et al, 2021).

The post Deconstructing Pop Culture’s Impact on Eating Disorders appeared first on Psychologs Magazine | Mental Health Magazine | Psychology Magazine | Self-Help Magazine.

Desires are what makes a person tempt for something or someone and resisting it specifically only makes a person tempt more for it. Many times people gets tempted or more drawn towards wrong, misleading or irrational desires which sometimes leads to their downfall and can cause problems in life.

In informal terms, temptations can be described as the state of getting attracted or feel attached to, without even having any moral or ethical value of it’s own. It’s much easier to have some sort of self control when the temptations are weaker and milder than when it’s stronger and harder to resist. Also, according to the research, temptations which are easily available or are in sight of an individual are somewhat less valuable or tempting and people give less attention to it as it’s easily accessible.

Also Read: Toilet Scrolling: What are the mental and physicals health dangers?

Understanding temptations better

Temptations are based on one’s choices and are a matter of interest:

What one person finds tempting isn’t necessarily tempting for the other person as everyone has got their own likings and interests. Everyone make different choices and have their own likes and dislikes. For some, a new model of car launched in market is tempting and for others it could be trying out new places to eat or travel. So in that case, temptations are relative.

Temptations can cause conflicts within different thoughts and values:

One may value qualities like honesty, kindness, trust, success and still use clever tactics and lie in workplace to achieve higher positions and reduce workload. Same way, people who believes in long term relationships and trust, easily gets tempted towards dishonesty and betrayal and ends their relationship easily.

Temptations can’t be predicted beforehand:

There’s no warning or sign of precautions that makes an individual gets aware of the temptations they are going to face in future. It gives no time to be prepared or establish a particular mind set. Temptations for a thing or a person just strikes at the moment and gives no time to reconsider the choices that one is going to make at a sudden opportunity, which sometimes leads to making wrong decisions or consider bad choices.

Also Read: The Psychology of Patience

What makes a person get tempted for something or someone?

People could get tempted by the things they are most interested in or are excited about, like some people gets tempted by food, others by books, clothes, cars, luxurious brands. People also finds shopping, traveling, posting or venting on social media, gossiping, cheating, stealing, lying, watching pornography, having sex, drinking alcohol or consuming drugs tempting.

Temptations occur in gut of an individual rather than their brain, arousing the feelings of both luring and repelling from the temptations. Sometimes it’s the curiosity for something new and interesting that makes a person tempt for it and long for it, other times it’s the psychological manipulation and the fear of loosing something important and loving that makes an individual gets tempted for it so much. Achieving or acquiring the things of temptations satisfy an individual’s ego and gives them pleasure, even if it’s short term pleasure and spikes their dopamine level.

Temptations for power, fame and money by political leaders in politics makes them gets involved in corruption and unethical behaviours. Similarly, narcissists gets temptations for power and entitlement. Extroverts gets tempted for parties and social events, they can’t be alone and needs someone to be there to hear them talk. On the other hand, Introverts craves for their alone time. They gets easily tempted by quiet places and things which gives them comfort.

Also Read: Self-love as a form of Self-discipline

Why is it hard to resist temptations, even the basic ones?

Temptations could even make a good person do bad things. Sometimes resisting temptations are as basic as entering a roadside bakery after watching the chocolate cake placed in bakery’s glass counter and then walking out without buying or eating it and sometimes it could be taking out cash from the pocket and buying that cake thinking ‘we only live once and I’ve worked hard enough to reward myself with this chocolaty piece of tempting cake’, just to feel that guilt of adding extra calories of the day later.

Temptations are like an evil trap carefully designed to trap the individual who fails to resist the strong temptations of nature. The fact that the individual still feels like they have some self control over themselves since the very beginning while they are becoming trapped, is a scam/ trap itself. They keep believing that they are under control of themselves until they no longer are.

Temptations can be compared to the concept of gravity for better visualisation and a clear understanding. Just like the gravity pulls an object down on the ground which is thrown upwards with powerful force, likewise an object of temptations pulls an individual towards itself through that growing sudden urge to have or want it. This urge varies with respect to the distance. For example, a person is watching something tempting on television screen, they won’t feel much tempted as when the same object is present in front of them.

Three regions of temptations as a result of above comparison

There are mainly three regions emerging around temptations of almost all kinds. These are:

1. The akratic zone: Akratic zone is the zone where will power of an individual fails to save them from their temptations alone.
2. The danger zone: Danger zone is the second type of zone in which after staying for too long, the will power of an individual just fades away or gets reduced.
3. The safe zone: The last type of zone is the safe zone. As the name suggests, here the will power stays intact and is stable enough to resist any temptations for a long time.

In majority of human beings, the akratic zone dominates which makes a person lose confidence and let’s the temptations control them.

Ways to help an individual resist all kinds of temptations

Here are list of ways which could help a person resist temptations irrespective of their frequency and intensity.

Be strong and show resilience:

Even if a person strongly gets tempted towards something, they need to believe that their belief system and values are stronger to resist temptations and make necessary decisions to reach specific goals. People need to feel that self control over themselves and be determined enough to resist temptations, no matter how small or big an urge to do or want something is. One needs to have a firm belief and faith on themselves to overcome any kind of temptations and not let it control them but quite the opposite.

Also Read: Psychology Behind Holiday Stress

It’s all a game of person’s mind, so train the mind and brain accordingly and learn to ignore or divert the mind from temptations. When a person doesn’t pay much attention to the particular temptations, the brain takes it as a signal that it’s not that important and soon tries to forget or reduce the temptations.

Long term goals over everything:

Temptations gives a person short term relief and satisfaction, so it’s not worth it to obtain short term desires by keeping long term goals on stake. If an individual wants to get slim and stay fit, they need to avoid having too many cheat meals and should exercise daily persistently.

Distance empowers the resistance:

It’s best to distance oneself when came across temptations or when it feels like being tempted when arriving at a familiar place. Believe in ‘out of sight, out of mind’ rule as it can do wonders and helps a person resist unnecessary temptations.

No blame game:

Temptations are natural and anyone can get tempted of one thing or the other, even when they are Highly disciplined and can distinguish between wants and needs. So instead of blaming oneself, go easy and try to understand the thought process behind it and think of the ideas for how can the temptations be avoided.

Let others know ones beliefs and values:

Temptations are generally forced upon an individual by others as per the desires and interests, so it’s best to make sure that other people, including friends and colleagues, family members or relatives know what ones values and beliefs are or which religion ones follow, before forcing something on that individual or making them tempt for something unnecessarily just for fun.

For example, if someone belongs to a particular community where drinking and smoking is strictly prohibited and others know this thing about the person, they won’t really force or even ask that person to drink or smoke along with them even on social events as they know it would only lead them to cross the boundaries and Indirectly makes them commit a sin by making the person use substances.

Also Read: How to Break a Bad Habit?

Get surrounded by right people:

It’s so important to get surrounded by right people And be in a good company, people who are understanding and don’t make oneself tempt for bad things and even helps in resisting temptations by the individual through different means, even by using or implementing some hard and strict rules to avoid temptations. These kind of people always wants each other to succeed in life and provide necessary support.

The post The Psychology of Temptation appeared first on Psychologs Magazine | Mental Health Magazine | Psychology Magazine | Self-Help Magazine.