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What are some effective ways to avoid selfie deformations and achieve a more realistic self-image on social media?

**The selfie paradox**: Research suggests that people who take more selfies tend to have lower self-esteem, as they're more focused on their physical appearance rather than their inner qualities.

**The 2D vs.

3D effect**: When we view ourselves in 2D (on a screen), our brains tend to focus on imperfections, which can lead to negative self-perception, whereas 3D interactions (face-to-face) promote more realistic self-awareness.

**The Baader-Meinhof phenomenon**: When we're exposed to idealized images, our brains start to notice those features in ourselves, creating an unrealistic comparison and dissatisfaction.

**The spotilight effect**: People tend to overestimate the extent to which others notice their flaws, leading to unnecessary self-criticism.

**The mere exposure effect**: The more we're exposed to edited, curated images, the more we perceive them as the norm, leading to an unrealistic self-image.

**The confirmation bias**: When we're shown idealized images, our brains selectively seek out information that confirms our biases, making us more likely to internalize negative self-perceptions.

**The false consensus effect**: We tend to overestimate the extent to which others share our flaws, leading to an unrealistic sense of self.

**The availability heuristic**: When we're constantly exposed to idealized images, our brains overestimate their importance, making us more critical of ourselves.

**The objectification theory**: When we focus on physical appearance, we start to objectify ourselves, leading to self-objectification and decreased self-esteem.

**The implicit association test**: Research suggests that implicit biases towards idealized beauty standards can influence our self-perception, even when we're not consciously aware of it.

**The social identity theory**: When we compare ourselves to idealized images, our brains naturally categorize ourselves as "in-group" or "out-group," leading to feelings of inadequacy.

**The diffusion of responsibility**: When we're exposed to idealized images, we tend to shift the blame for our perceived shortcomings to external factors, rather than taking responsibility for our own self-perception.

**The third-person effect**: When we view ourselves from an outside perspective, we tend to be more critical and focus on flaws, rather than our positive qualities.

**The hindsight bias**: When we think about our past, we tend to overestimate the extent to which we were flawed, leading to an unrealistic self-perception.

**The self-comparison theory**: When we compare ourselves to idealized images, we tend to internalize those comparisons, leading to a distorted self-image.

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