Being a huge fan of people watching (I prefer the term Sidewalk Psychology) another guilty pleasure of mine is checking out people online – checking out their profile pictures, that is - let’s just call this Social Media Profile Psychology before I risk sounding like a total perve.

How people choose to present themselves online is an astonishing subject. It doesn’t only provide a quick glimpse into who that person is, but it provides a lot of insight into how a person wants to be perceived by others. In a way we’re selling ourselves, a profile picture is the mannequin in the store’s front window. Or as Erving Goffman puts it in a dramaturgal approach he compares people’s everyday self-presentation to stage acting, where the ‘performer’ plays a role for an ‘audience’ in a ‘front stage’ area and then retreats to a ‘backstage’ where he will change back to a non-performer role. And for people who’ve befriended us already – it may serve to reassure them why they’ve “chosen” us in the first place. A 2008 study by ScienceDaily suggests that we can even detect narcissism by inspecting the way in which people present themselves online.

How are people selfpresenting themselves online

OkCupid.com, an online dating service has recently conducted research on Social Media Profile Psychology and presents the following findings. These findings, I believe may be relevant to most if not all Social Media Platforms.

• 56% of women smile in their profiles compared to 36% of men.

• For women MySpace shot is the most popular photograph used.

• Most men pose with a pet.

• Flirting directly with the camera gets a woman more messages.

• Men’s photos are most effective when they look away from the camera and don’t smile.

• The self shot photo is the most successful.

• A picture where you do something interesting is most successful

• The effectiveness of the abs photographs decreases sharply with age and similiarly the cleavage shot for women.

A study by psychologist Dr Asi Sharabi featured in the Cosmopolitan suggests the following personality traits based on Facebook Profile pictures of women.

Pouting: Indicates someone who wishes to be acknowledged in a sexual way – seeking intimacy or a partner. It could also indicate being a very tactile person.

Posing with an animal: A person who displays themselves as capable of caring and nurturing, indicating need of an outlet for these tendencies and a broody nature.

Dancing: This is the ultimate invitation to be watched. Those who show themselves dancing are likely to be strongly extrovert. Additionally, in Western Culture, dancing has strong connotations toward leisure and freedom, denoting a hedonistic, pleasure-seeking streak.

With a boyfriend: Indicates serial monogamists, and signifies searching for a deeper or more committed relationship.

With a guy who is not her boyfriend: A picture with a potentially ambiguous meaning shows a love of creating stories, and playing games with the social fabric. In short, one who thrives on gossip.

Doing an activity: This is someone who identifies with their abilities and experiences rather than emotions or relationships. It may also indicate an unwillingness to commit or settle down.

On holiday: Those who choose to identify themselves with a carefree holiday may have a tendency to over-stress in their everyday lives. This could also indicate escapist fantasies or a dreamer disposition.

Looking away from the camera: An unwillingness to be caught and posed in the conventional way is indicative of someone headstrong and confident in their approach to life.

Enjoying a night out: This image represents the social, extroverted aspects of a personality; denoting that they value confidence and attention highly.