In our society, lots of us have a habit of posting our vacation photographs, the achievements we get, or compliments on social media. This choice to show off their things somewhere rooted in human behavior. The desire is the want for validation from others. Individuals searching for validation from others through displaying their accomplishments or possessions can improve their self-confidence and worth. By doing this, they get the feeling of importance and reputed. Another reason that people want validation is to mask their insecurities.
The Desire for Social Validation
In today’s society, social media is important in a person’s life, especially among adolescents. The rise of social media platforms has had a widespread effect on our culture, especially on showing ourselves. It permits us to show our lives on those structures whilst the desire for social validation comes into the picture. All this creates an illusionary world for them, wherein everything is ideal and there’s nothing as flaws exist. People most effectively share their achievements and excellent moments, which makes them create a false notion about achievement.
Also Read: Coffee Culture: A Journey through Community and Connection
People desire validation due to the fact they want to feel important and recognized. Moreover, social media has emerged as a way for people to feel their self-worth. Our life is now dependent on likes and comments. The more the range of likes and followers, the extra socially confirmed and popular one feels. In order to get validation, people can go to any extent by buying followers and fabricating their lives.
In our society, there’s pressure to be successful and appealing. Individuals may additionally base their self-worth on outside elements like likes and followers rather than inner values and traits. Therefore, they may experience the want to constantly display their achievements to feel validated and maintain their self-esteem.
The Fear of Missing Out
We have seen many people saying that they’re feeling FOMO. These terms are getting even greater famous with the rise of social media. FOMO is when an individual feels distressed after they see others are experiencing something better that they are missing out on. Social media has a crucial role in this because it makes individuals continuously check their phones to see what parties or activities they’re attending. The motivation in the back of FOMO is the validation of social connection and belonging. Consistent publicity to social media systems like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook increases this want. All this has led to stress on maintaining up and increased the feeling of missing out on them.
The belongingns issue is not only behind the FOMO but also the worry of being left behind. This is something that has not been introduced in the modern world, but back in evolution history, the fear is there for excluding a particular group. It was believed that exclusion from the group meant Not being able to access resources and protection. Therefore, the FOMO is passed down to generations and makes us interact in activities to ourselves linked to others. Moreover, The need for social comparison is also linked to FOMO. It is a natural tendency in human beings to compare themselves with others. We come across the lives of others and start perceiving their lives as greater than ours.
Also Read: How Does Stress Show Up In Your Body?
The comparison similarly leads human beings to begin competing with each other. It may be performed using posting the latest trends, going to experience locations, and attending more activities. All that is done is to make yourself superior to others.
Insecurity and Overcoming Inadequacy
We all have faced insecurity and inadequacy in our lives. The reasons for them could be because of relationships, or at your workplace. Some people cope with these issues by showing off and seeking external validation. Often, this behavior can be proven harmful to the individual as there is no end to searching for validation from others. The connection between security and the need for external validation is complex. The root cause of insecurity is the lack of self-esteem and self-worth of a person. The need for external validation can be achieved in several ways, and one of them is feeling the urge to show off my material possessions or accomplishments. The desire to be accepted by everyone is the reason behind this behavior.
Also Read: The Psychology Behind Stubbornness
In order to conquer these harmful behaviors, human beings need to shift their focus to constructing self-self beliefs. It is essential to highlight your weaknesses and strengths. By the use of ways like taking treatment options, self-mirrored image, and surrounding yourself with positivity can help to control the feeling of insecurity and inadequacy. Accepting and appreciating yourself in the manner you are is the first step toward putting off the lack of confidence within you. Make yourself understand that it’s okay and normal to have flaws.
The Role of Materialism
Our obsession with materialistic possessions has forced us to agree that everything is dependent on them. Today, We have been flooded with messages that promote consumerism and the belief that more material possessions equals success and happiness. As a consequence, there has been an increase in the showing-off culture. Consumerism plays a significant role in this culture. The regular promotion and marketing of products have made people desire materialistic things. It has created a mindset for humans that possessing these items can make them feel happy and fulfilled. There is no such value for emotions. Moreover, people indulge in shopping for pointless objects simply to show off.
Also Read: Understanding the Psychology behind Privacy
Not only that, but it also influences the way we see ourselves. People have created a notion that whoever has extra possession of things is superior and effective and people who don’t are inferior. As a result, people are pressured to be superior in society. Furthermore, displaying things will have a bad effect on people’s mental well-being. It will also badly affect the financial condition of an individual.
References+
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/social-validation-surajit-roy
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8283615/#:~:text=FoMO%20is%20considered%20as%20a,of%20emotional%20control%3B%20with%20intimate
- https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-stop-being-insecure
- https://www.apa.org/monitor/jun04/discontents
Leave feedback about this