Continuing the grand tradition of Teach Me Something Tuesday guest posts which are way better than the ones I do, I welcome my friend Shaina who is here to discuss some Pop Psych: Hot Gossip with a Side of Psychology.
As Dane Cook pointed out at the Nickelodeon Teen Choice Awards last week, Vanessa Hudgens can not seem to keep her clothes on. Earlier this month a new batch of half naked pics taken on a cellphone circulated the internet to sequel the ones that made the rounds in 2007. Let’s put the fact that this is coming up at an award show for kids — a show where Miley Cyrus also shimmied along a stripper pole to the side for a moment — and focus on the de rigueur teenage pastime of “sexting.” Is there some kind of natural inclination, an evolutionary propellant to shed our unnatural clothing and flash off our goods like peacock feathers? Is it the ever-pornification of our society? Or is it just that the advent of clothing brought the titillation of “sans clothing” and those in the rebellious stage of development love all things titillating and mostly express themselves in a digital word?
As it turns out, little focus has been paid to the cultural or evolutionary role of exposure in today’s society since the early Freud theories of “perversion” which explain male flashing as a soothing of castration anxiety (because of the powerful shock the anaconda provides to its unsuspecting female victim). What, no public sponsored research after moms saw their little girls flashing on a Girl’s Gone Wild commercial? The commonplace practices of everyday teens soberly (we assume) posting themselves on the internet and via text has caught the attention of the psych community, however.
Dr. Sari Locker a Columbia University adolescent psychology professor and sextologist, shared with CNN that she believes girls send pictures to hold onto their boyfriends who are watching porn on the internet. Dr. John Suler and other researchers use the term “disinhbition effect” to describe the uninhibited expression in cyberspace. Often people share very personal things about themselves, show unusual acts of kindness, or use rude language or harsh criticism (which explains urbanbaby.com). This is due to psychological feelings of anonymity, asynchronicity (not interacting in real time), and existing in an alternate dimension.
And what of the person who forwards on these photos? It might not occur to them that this lady is even a person. Princeton psychology professor Susan Fiske, Mina Cikara GS and Standford psychology professor Jennifer Eberhart performed MRI machine scans and found that partially clothed women activated brain regions associated with objects or “things you manipulated with your hands”.
All in all, a high percent of teens seem to be aware of the possible negative consequences but send nude or half naked pictures of themselves anyway. Sounds like Dr. Locker’s advice to give the kiddies phones sans camera is a good idea.
Resources:
1. Suler, J. (2004). CyberPsychology and Behavior, 7, 321-326.
2. The Online Disinhibition Effect
3. Wolman, B (1998) Handbook of Human Sexuality, Jason Aronson; 2 Sub edition
4. Sex and Tech: results from a survey of teens and young adults
5. Sexting expert: Teens should not have cameras on cell phones
Pictures of a sloppy Jessica Simpson and inebriated Katie Price seem to be a daily treat on the gossip blogs these days. Both girls, as many celebs and civilians before them are binging after break-ups. Is it self-medication or a gulping down freedom?
Experts seem to agree that breaking up is similar psychologically to going through the loss of a loved one by death. Dr. Fisher at Rugers Univestiy found that in MRIs of recently dumped individuals, the brain areas associated with obsessive thinking and anger suppression were more active. As were the areas that release dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with risk taking. If there was ever a time you might think it’s a good idea to booze it up and make out with randoms, this might be it.
Another study done by psychologists at the UC Davis and University of Nevada, Reno found that certain types of people were more likely to drink and use drugs after a break-up. Those who tend towards self-reliance and avoidance are more likely to drink, likely because they don’t use social coping strategies. Individuals who tend to be more anxious in relationships and oscillate between dramatic and coy interactions with romantic interests are also more likely to take to the bottle after a break up. In general people who experienced greater distress are more likely to use the strategy of their choice more intensely for greater soothing. What’s more stressful than being dumped before your birthday and seeing it on every tabloid in the country?
Word to the wise recently single boys & girls: if you are going to pick up the bottle to heal your wounds, stay in with some good friends and play a game of 10 reasons my ex blows and 10 reasons my next will be better.
Resources:
1. D. Davis, Shaver, P.R., and Vernon, M. (2003) Psychical, Emotional, and Behavioral Reactions to Breaking up: The roles of gender, age, emotional involvement, and attachment style, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 29; 871
2. Fisher, H (2004), Dumped! The Nature of Romantic Rejection, New Scientist
Wow. As a mother of a teen girl I’m not sure I want to know this stuff. Ack. We regularly have the conversation about screwing up your life by putting stuff on Facebook or elsewhere you wish others hadn’t seen. But perhaps its time for another one. Sigh.
Its been a long time since my break-up. Seriously I think death would have been easier. His, not mine.
Then its over, they are gone, the end. As it is, you get to keep dealing with them for 18+ years. Didn’t turn to drink though. Yet.
If the human body weren’t continually demonized by society, people wouldn’t view exposing it as a transgression in the first place. The fact that adults still giggle like third graders if one of their peers accidentally or on purpose reveals parts of their bodies associated with procreation or excretion shows how society continues to infantalize and stigmatize our relationship with our own bodies and those of others. It always amazes me that there are grown people who will, in a locker room, struggle to put on their underwear while simultaneously wearing a towel, terrified that someone might see their genitals. Eek, you’re a human!
Wow….how cerebral….this made my head hurt. I mean, it was well researched and written, definitely, but its not what I expected from Puntabulous. Now I’m a bit ashamed of my guest post.
Nah, no I’m not. I’m too immature to be ashamed of it, as I’m one of those adults who giggle at genitalia that David mentioned.
Course, it is refreshing to get come intellectualism on Puntabulous, isn’t it?
HUGS….
Tam: LOL @ “His, not mine.”
David: If I ever went to the gym, I would totally be one of those people that puts their underwear on under a towel.
Polt: Are you calling my blog unintellectual? I mean, crime-fighting genitalia AND reviews of G.I. Joe? My head hurts just thinking about it!
Loved this post and the fusion of gossip and psychology! Thanks Shaina!
Great post, but now I am even more worried about my daughter’s social interactions, and she is only three! I am going to be a nervous wreck for the next twenty years…
David: I totally agree, I never understood why people are so uncomfortable with their own bodies. We are all human and come from the factory in only two standard configurations, and aside from expensive, and potentially dangerous, surgery the number of accessories and upgrades are limited. Be happy with who you are and don’t allow others to make you feel ashamed because you don’t fit into some idiotic conception of “perfection.” In case you can’t tell, I am one of those guys that will walk from the lockers to the shower and back without covering up with a towel. I have been told that my brazen locker room nudity may make some guys uncomfortable, but I figure they are going to see me in the shower anyway so why does it matter? What do you think?
M. Nic: You rock. That’s what I think. I don’t overly display the goods, unless I’m in a setting – like a nude beach – where such behavior is the norm. But in a locker room, I take my towel off before I put my underwear on. I mean, who doesn’t want to make sure it’s all dry down there before putting on the tighty-whitey’s?
Craig – Is that because you don’t want to shame others with the ginormous size of your penis? Otherwise, c’mon, shake whatcha momma gave ya!
David: You are so right. Me taking off my towel in a locker room is equivalent to yelling “Fire!” in a crowded movie theater. Both are extremely panic inducing.
This was an interesting TMST since it was more based in theory than fact.
I, for one, am NOT like some of these Hollywood starlets in that I have never sent n00dz to the tabloids, like V. Hud did! It’s all about fame. (Though that might by my next ploy to increase my blog views!)
I agree with Enrico, the “ladies” who are “caught” by the media flashing the goods are, at the very least, aware of what they are doing.
I have to admit, I really don’t understand the allure of fame. It seems like it would be a huge pain in the a55 to be famous. Personally, I think I would enjoy a little more anonymity.
David & M.Nico: Sorry to disappoint, but I’d have my towel on while going to and from the shower, but would remove it to put on my tighties.
Of course, I’d have to actually *go* to the gym to be faced with this issue…
Craig: now you have me thinking about the locker room scene from Baseketball where Yasmine Bleeth gets a glimpse of Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s “sporting equipment”
M. nico: now you’re got me thinking about the locker room scene from “Last AMerican Virgin”…now we’ll see who out there really watches obscure movies from the 80;s!
HUGS…
Polt: LOL! Can I assume you would have the ruler if needed?
David: I’m also one of those people that put on underwear under a towel. For some reason, everyone else in my family walks around naked, yet I’m super modest.
Enrico: This from a man who claims to hate towels and ran around his dorm room nekkid to dry off? I don’t think so.
john: I’d throttle the guy holding the ruler and kick him in the nuts if I had to, to get it from him! Of COURSE I’m the guy with the ruler! D-uh!
HUGS…
Tam: I was thinking the same thing about Enrico. Modest my ass.
Polt: I would have been disappointed with any other answer.
Interesting post. I’ve certainly wondered what was going on in these girls’ heads. I wonder how they’ll bring up their daughters? Dr. Locker’s theory (sexting to keep you boyfriend’s attention) was sad. And if the Zac Efron rumors are true, Vanessa can give it a break : ). I know we all make mistakes growing up, but these photos seemed planned for attention/notoriety. Recently Miley Cyrus’ sister had a stripper pole at her party. http://hollywooddame.com/2009/08/07/miley-cyrus-little-sister-noah-stripper-pole-party-photos/
She’s 9! I don’t consider myself a prude, but come on! Little kids are impressionable.
And then there’s this:
http://www.stylelist.com/blog/2009/08/18/nipple-tassels-for-babies-yep-the-designer-of-twisted-twees-e/
Michelle M.: Thanks for reminding me….
Shaina: That was not a stripper pole at the TCA! It was just an ice cream truck! She only moved on it once (sliding down) and for the rest of the time just held on to it.