Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 22, 2026
06:49
A Standardized Approach to Extra-Oral and Intra-Oral Digital Photography
Published on: July 22, 2022
10.4K
Selfie-Takers Prefer Left Cheeks: Converging Evidence from the (Extended) selfiecity Database.
Lev Manovich1, Vera Ferrari2, Nicola Bruno2
1The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New YorkNY, United States.
Frontiers in Psychology
|September 21, 2017
Summary
Selfie takers consistently prefer showing their left cheek, regardless of culture or sex. This left-cheek bias is linked to stronger negative emotional expressions in selfies, supporting brain lateralization theories.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Digital Media Studies
Background:
- Previous studies suggest a left-cheek bias in selfie posing across cultures.
- This bias has been linked to theories of right-hemispheric specialization for emotional expression.
- Methodological limitations in prior research, such as human categorization of poses, necessitate further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the left-cheek bias in selfie posing using objective, automated methods.
- To examine the relationship between cheek bias and the expression of emotions in selfies.
- To confirm or refute previous findings on culture- and sex-independent posing preferences.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the extended selfiecity database, incorporating automated assessments of head rotation.
- Automated evaluation of emotional expression in selfie images.
- Statistical analysis to identify culture- and sex-independent posing biases and their correlation with emotional expression.
Main Results:
- A culture- and sex-independent left-cheek bias in selfie posing was confirmed.
- Selfies featuring the left cheek showed a stronger expression of negative emotions.
- The findings align with psychobiological accounts of left-cheek bias in self-portraits.
Conclusions:
- The left-cheek bias in selfies is a robust phenomenon, independent of cultural and sex factors.
- The association between left-cheek presentation and negative emotional expression warrants further investigation.
- Results provide insights into the interplay between posing behavior, emotional expression, and brain lateralization in digital self-representation.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Facial Feedback Hypothesis
699
Charles Darwin proposed that facial expressions are an evolutionary adaptation for communication. He argued that these expressions are not influenced by culture but are universal across species. For example, a snarling expression with exposed teeth signals a threat in many animals, including humans. Darwin also suggested that displaying an emotion can intensify the feeling. Smiling, for example, could enhance one's sense of happiness. This idea laid the foundation for understanding the role...
699
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
5.8K
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
5.8K
01:14Muscles for Facial Expressions
5.1K
The craniofacial muscles are a collection of approximately 20 thin skeletal muscles situated beneath the skin of the face and scalp. These muscles, primarily responsible for the vast array of human facial expressions, originate from the bones or fibrous structures of the skull and extend outwards to connect with the skin. While most skeletal muscles in the body are enveloped in thick fascia, facial muscles generally have a more delicate fascial covering, with the buccinator muscle being a...
5.1K
02:57The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
56.3K
According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...
56.3K
01:30Social Foundations of Self IV: Self in Digital Communication
219
Since the early 2000s, computer-mediated communication (CMC) has grown rapidly, playing a crucial role in self-development. A key distinction between CMC and real-life interactions is the lack of a physically present partner. This absence makes non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, body language, and paralinguistic signals unavailable in CMC platforms like email, instant messaging, or social media. The lack of these cues can create ambiguity and complicate how feedback is interpreted.The...
219
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
9.8K
Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
9.8K