Personality traits and psychological motivations predicting selfie posting behaviors on social networking sites

This study examined the relationships between narcissism, the Big 5 personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience), the need for popularity, the need to belong, and various types of selfie posting behaviors—posting solo selfies, selfies with a group, and editing selfies. Results of the survey (N = 260) indicated that after controlling for overall social media use and demographic factors (i.e., age, gender), narcissism significantly predicted the frequency of posting solo selfies and editing selfies. Age moderated the relationship between narcissism and the frequency of posting group selfies. Posting group selfies was predicted by extraversion and agreeableness and the need for popularity. The need for popularity also predicted the frequency of posting solo selfies, but not of selfie editing. Furthermore, findings revealed that gender moderated the relationship between the need for popularity and posting solo selfies, such that the need for popularity predicted posting solo selfies among men, but not among women. The need to belong was not associated with any of the selfie behaviors. Interpretations and implications of these findings are discussed.