True self and false self in social media

This week, our class continued with the problematic use of social media but focused more on the body image problem and authenticity affairs. From there, I can zoom in on the authenticity of social network sites (SNS); one of the attractive topics is the linkage between true self or false self-presentative and mental illness.

Video: "The True and the False Self." Source: The School of Life

True self and false self

According to Winnicott's (1960) theory, a person's ego can be divided into two categories: the "real self," which is the underlying organismic self, and the "true self" and "false self," which are more impromptu and authentic experiences. According to Rogers' (1959) theory, the ideal self frequently differs from the real self because of an early lack of positive regard. The real self is defined as the underlying organismic self. We refer to the discrepancy between the true and ideal selves as incongruity. According to both theories, psychological issues can arise when there are significant differences between the true and protective selves. Having a distinct identity and acting in accordance with one's "true self" can be advantageous, particularly in online settings. Honesty and authenticity can foster stronger, longer-lasting friendships online that carry over into the real world.

False self presentative on Facebook: Facebook-self

Facebook users share a lot of information about themselves, such as their educational background, work history, professional experience, written texts, videos, and photos. Facebook users rarely give misleading surface information, but their deep identities are frequently revealed indirectly through cues and signals hidden in their posts and photos. Users create signals that portray their identities positively and keep them more implicit (Zhao et al., 2008). According to research by Gil-Or et al. (2015), the Facebook-self is a group of signals a user posts to their community on Facebook, such as messages published on their own or other people's "walls," uploaded content, and profile details.

Private messages exchanged on Facebook are typically not included in the public "Facebook-self." The "Facebook-self" may occasionally reflect a person's "true self," but it also frequently exhibits a "false self" to some extent, which may deviate from a person's "true self." This falseness, which can represent one's non-Facebook "False self," need not be deliberate or conscious.

You can link the Facebook self example with this video in the context of Instagram. Video: "Are You Living an Insta Lie? Social Media Vs. Reality." Source: Ditch the Label.

The correlation between Facebook self and some unhealthy issues

The findings of Gil-Or et al. (2015) suggested that one's false Facebook persona can be lessened in size by having high self-esteem and being genuine in real life. These disparities are adversely affected by avoidant and anxious attachment styles, which also indirectly contribute to the development of a false Facebook persona. The flaws in a person's personality, which may be connected to social characteristics and upbringing, fuel the false Facebook persona. These characteristics are more prevalent in people with avoidant and anxious attachment styles, as well as in people with low self-esteem and general authenticity. This is consistent with Bowlby's attachment theory and extends research on the relationship between dishonest behaviors, like lying and cheating, and insecure attachment styles in the online setting. The study expands our comprehension of offline behaviors, including the increasing frequency of online social interactions.

Your mental health matters

Moving forward to future research

From the true self and false self, psychologists also have another concept of the ideal self. "Within the perspective of positive psychology, the ideal self (IS) is not considered a defensive function; it is the core mechanism for self‐regulation and intrinsic motivation. It manifests as a personal vision or an image of what kind of person one wishes to be and what they hope to accomplish in life and work" (Boyatzis & Akrivou, 2006). With the rise of social media platforms in recent years, researchers can look at how users present themselves in different SNSs. The result should be interesting when comparing which platform has the most true self, false self, ideal self, and vice versa.

References:

Boyatzis, R. E. and Akrivou, K. (2006). The ideal self as the driver of intentional change. Journal of Management Development, 25(7), 624-642. https://doi.org/10.1108/02621710610678454

Gil-Or, O., Levi-Belz, Y., & Turel, O. (2015). The "Facebook-self": characteristics and psychological predictors of false self-presentation on Facebook. Front Psychol, 6, 99. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00099 

Rogers, C. R. (1959). Psychology: A study of a science. Formulations of the person and the social context. Koch S, rédacteur. A theory of therapy, personality and interpersonal relationships as developed in the client-centered framework, 3.

Winnicott, D. W. (2018). The maturational processes and the facilitating environment: Studies in the theory of emotional development. Routledge.

Zhao, S., Grasmuck, S., & Martin, J. (2008). Identity construction on Facebook: Digital empowerment in anchored relationships. Computers in human behavior, 24(5), 1816-1836. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2008.02.012