Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The moderating role of exhibitionism in the relationship between psychological needs and selfie-posting behavior

  • Published:
Current Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The study investigated the moderating role of exhibitionism in the relationship between psychological needs (i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness) and selfie-posting behavior. The study proposed a research model by extending the “self-determination theory” with exhibitionism to better explain selfie-posting behavior. Structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was employed to test the proposed model based on data obtained from 316 social media users in New Delhi, India. Results indicated that psychological needs for relatedness, competence, and autonomy significantly predict selfie-posting behavior. Further, results of the multi-group analysis indicated that level of exhibitionism plays a moderating role in the relationship between psychological needs and selfie-posting behavior. The findings suggested that individuals with a higher level of exhibitionism more tend to post selfies on social media to satisfy their needs for competence and relatedness.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

“Data will be available upon request.”

References

  • Aharony, N. (2016). Relationships among attachment theory, social capital perspective, personality characteristics, and Facebook self-disclosure. Aslib Journal of Information Management, 68(3), 362–386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alhabash, S., Chiang, Y. H., & Huang, K. (2014). MAM & U&G in Taiwan: Differences in the uses and gratifications of Facebook as a function of motivational reactivity. Computers in Human Behavior, 35, 423–430.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ang, C. S., Talib, M. A., Tan, K. A., Tan, J. P., & Yaacob, S. N. (2015). Understanding computer-mediated communication attributes and life satisfaction from the perspectives of uses and gratifications and self-determination. Computers in Human Behavior, 49, 20–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arpaci, I. (2018). The moderating effect of gender in the relationship between narcissism and selfie-posting behavior. Personality and Individual Differences, 134(11), 71–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2018.06.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arpaci, I. (2020). The influence of social interactions and subjective norms on social media postings. Journal of Information & Knowledge Management, 19(3), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0219649220500239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arpaci, I., Kesici, Ş., & Baloğlu, M. (2018). Individualism and internet addiction: The mediating role of psychological needs. Internet Research, 28(2), 293–314. https://doi.org/10.1108/IntR-11-2016-0353.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baard, P. P., Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2004). Intrinsic need satisfaction: A motivational basis of performance and well-being in two work settings. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 34(10), 2045–2068.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bassiouni, D. H., & Hackley, C. (2014). “Generation Z” children’s adaptation to digital consumer culture: A critical literature review. Journal of Customer Behaviour, 13(2), 113–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bazarova, N. N., & Choi, Y. H. (2014). Self-disclosure in social media: Extending the functional approach to disclosure motivations and characteristics on social network sites. Journal of Communication, 64(4), 635–657.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, S. (2014). A brief history of the# selfie (1839–2014). Media bistro.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buffardi, L. E., & Campbell, W. K. (2008). Narcissism and social networking web sites. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 34(10), 1303–1314.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, G. M. (2012). Why do women write personal blogs? Satisfying needs for self-disclosure and affiliation tell part of the story. Computers in Human Behavior, 28(1), 171–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behaviour. Springer Science & Business Media.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behaviour. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Derlega, V. J., & Grzelak, J. (1979). Appropriateness of self-disclosure. In G. J. Chelune (Ed.), Self-disclosure: Origins, patterns, and implications for openness in interpersonal relations (pp. 151–176). Jossey-Bass.

  • Guo, M., Liu, R. D., Ding, Y., Hu, B., Zhen, R., Liu, Y., & Jiang, R. (2018). How are extraversion, exhibitionism, and gender associated with posting selfies on WeChat friends' circle in Chinese teenagers? Personality and Individual Differences, 127, 114–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2018.01.042.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., Anderson, R. E., & Tatham, R. L. (2010). Multivariate data analysis (7th ed.). Prentice-Hall.

  • Hollenbaugh, E. E., & Ferris, A. L. (2014). Facebook self-disclosure: Examining the role of traits, social cohesion, and motives. Computers in Human Behavior, 30, 50–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2013.07.055.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jin, S. A. A. (2009). Avatars mirroring the actual self-versus projecting the ideal self: The effects of self-priming on interactivity and immersion in an exergame, Wii fit. Cyber Psychology & Behavior, 12(6), 761–765.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jourard, S. M. (1971). Self-disclosure: An experimental analysis of the transparent self. Wiley Interscience.

  • Kavanaugh, A. L., Reese, D. D., Carroll, J. M., & Rosson, M. B. (2005). Weak ties in networked communities. The Information Society, 21(2), 119–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, H. S. (2016). What drives you to check in on Facebook? Motivations, privacy concerns, and mobile phone involvement for location-based information sharing. Computers in Human Behavior, 54, 397–406.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kisekka, V., Bagchi-Sen, S., & Rao, H. R. (2013). Extent of private information disclosure on online social networks: An exploration of Facebook mobile phone users. Computers in Human Behaviour, 29(6), 2722–2729.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koskela, H. (2004). Webcams, TV shows and mobile phones: Empowering exhibitionism. Surveillance & Society, 2(2/3), 199-215. https://doi.org/10.24908/ss.v2i2/3.3374.

  • Kreijns, K., Vermeulen, M., Van Acker, F., & van Buuren, H. (2014). Predicting teachers’ use of digital learning materials: Combining self-determination theory and the integrative model of behaviour prediction. European Journal of Teacher Education, 37(4), 465–478.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kwak, K. T., Choi, S. K., & Lee, B. G. (2014). SNS flow, SNS self-disclosure and post hoc interpersonal relations change: Focused on Korean Facebook user. Computers in Human Behavior, 31, 294–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y., Liu, R. D., Ding, Y., Wang, J., Zhen, R., & Xu, L. (2016). How online basic psychological need satisfaction influences self-disclosure online among Chinese adolescents: Moderated mediation effect of exhibitionism and narcissism. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 1279. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01279.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Malik, A., Dhir, A., & Nieminen, M. (2016). Uses and gratifications of digital photo sharing on Facebook. Telematics and Informatics, 33(1), 129–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manago, A. M., Graham, M. B., Greenfield, P. M., & Salimkhan, G. (2008). Self-presentation and gender on MySpace. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 29(6), 446–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McAuley, E., Duncan, T., & Tammen, V. V. (1989). Psychometric properties of the intrinsic motivation inventory in a competitive sport setting: A confirmatory factor analysis. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 60(1), 48–58.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McKenna, K. Y., & Bargh, J. A. (2000). Plan 9 from cyberspace: The implications of the internet for personality and social psychology. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 4(1), 57–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moller, A. C., & Deci, E. L. (2010). Interpersonal control, dehumanization, and violence: A self-determination theory perspective. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 13(1), 41–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murray, H. A. (1938). Explorations in personality: A clinical and experimental study of fifty men of college age. New York: Oxford University Press.

  • Murray, D. C. (2015). Notes to self: The visual culture of selfies in the age of social media. Consumption Markets & Culture, 18(6), 490–516.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nunnally, J. C., & Bernstein, I. H. (1994). The assessment of reliability. Psychometric Theory, 3, 248–292.

    Google Scholar 

  • Omarzu, J. (2000). A disclosure decision model: Determining how and when individuals will self-disclose. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 4(2), 174–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Posey, C., Lowry, P. B., Roberts, T. L., & Ellis, T. S. (2010). Proposing the online community self-disclosure model: The case of working professionals in France and the UK who use online communities. European Journal of Information Systems, 19(2), 181–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reeve, J., Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2004). Self-determination theory: A dialectical framework for understanding socio-cultural influences on student motivation. Big Theories Revisited, 4, 31–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, D., Woelfel, J., Krikorian, D., & Barnett, G. A. (2003). Procedures for analyses of online communities. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 8(4), JCMC847.

  • Ryan, R. M., Rigby, C. S., & Przybylski, A. (2006). The motivational pull of video games: A self-determination theory approach. Motivation and Emotion, 30(4), 344–360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, T., & Xenos, S. (2011). Who uses Facebook? An investigation into the relationship between the big five, shyness, narcissism, loneliness, and Facebook usage. Computers in Human Behaviour, 27(5), 1658–1664.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shen, C. X., Liu, R. D., & Wang, D. (2013). Why are children attracted to the internet? The role of need satisfaction perceived online and perceived in daily real life. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(1), 185–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sorokowski, P., Sorokowska, A., Oleszkiewicz, A., Frackowiak, T., Huk, A., & Pisanski, K. (2015). Selfie-posting behaviors are associated with narcissism among men. Personality and Individual Differences, 85, 123–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sung, Y., Lee, J. A., Kim, E., & Choi, S. M. (2016). Why we post selfies: Understanding motivations for posting pictures of oneself. Personality and Individual Differences, 97, 260–265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tamir, D. I., & Mitchell, J. P. (2012). Disclosing information about the self is intrinsically rewarding. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(21), 8038–8043.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Treem, J. W., & Leonardi, P. M. (2013). Social media use in organizations: Exploring the affordances of visibility, editability, persistence, and association. Annals of the International Communication Association, 36(1), 143–189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valkenburg, P. M., Schouten, A. P., & Peter, J. (2005). Adolescents’ identity experiments on the internet. New Media & Society, 7(3), 383–402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vallerand, R. J., Pelletier, L. G., & Koestner, R. (2008). Reflections on self-determination theory. Canadian Psychology, 49(3), 257–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallop, H. (2014). “Oscars 2014: The most famous “selfie” in the world (sorry Liza)”. Available at: www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/oscars/10674655/Oscars-2014-The-most-famous-selfie-in-the-worldsorry-Liza.html.

  • Zhao, S., Grasmuck, S., & Martin, J. (2008). Identity construction on Facebook: Digital empowerment in anchored relationships. Computers in Human Behaviour, 24(5), 1816–1836.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology, Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University, 60250, Tokat, Turkey

    Ibrahim Arpaci

  2. Industrial Marketing, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi, India

    Preeti Tak

  3. Amity Business School, Amity University, Jaipur, India

    Himanshu Shekhawat

Authors
  1. Ibrahim Arpaci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Preeti Tak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Himanshu Shekhawat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ibrahim Arpaci.

Ethics declarations

Informed Consent

“Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the studies.”

Conflict of Interest

“All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.”

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Arpaci, I., Tak, P. & Shekhawat, H. The moderating role of exhibitionism in the relationship between psychological needs and selfie-posting behavior. Curr Psychol 42, 3610–3616 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01732-5

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01732-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation