The tendency to photograph everything in a row: food, sights, yourself — many consider it an addiction. Now those who like to post their photos on social networks have a worthy answer to this accusation. American Christine Deal proved that even a picture of a dinner posted on Instagram (an extremist organization banned in Russia) makes us happier.
Once upon a time photography was an expensive pleasure. Now all it takes to take a picture is a smartphone, space on a memory card, and the patience of a friend who is forced to watch a cappuccino cup photo shoot.
“We are often told that constant photography prevents us from perceiving the world in full force,” says Kristin Diehl, Ph.D., professor at the University of Southern California (USA), “there is a statement that photographs interfere with awareness, and the lens becomes an obstacle between us and the real world.»
Christine Deal conducted a series of nine experiments1, which explored the emotions of people taking photographs. It turned out that the process of photographing makes people happier and allows you to experience the moment more vividly.
“We found that when you take pictures, you see the world a little differently,” explains Christine Deal, “because your attention is concentrated in advance on those things that you want to capture, and therefore keep in memory. This allows you to fully immerse yourself in what is happening, getting maximum emotions.
The main positive emotions are delivered by the process of planning photography
For example, travel and sightseeing. In one experiment, Christine Diehl and her colleagues put 100 people on two double-decker tour buses and took them on a tour of Philadelphia’s most scenic spots. Vehicles were banned on one bus, while on the other, participants were given digital cameras and asked to take pictures during the tour. According to the results of the survey, people from the second bus liked the trip much more. Moreover, they felt more involved in the process than their colleagues from the first bus.
Curiously, the effect works even during boring study tours of archaeological and scientific museums. It was on a tour of such museums that scientists sent a group of students who were given special glasses with lenses that track the direction of their gaze. The subjects were asked to take pictures of whatever they wanted. After the experiment, all students admitted that they liked the excursions very much. After analyzing the data, the authors of the study found that participants stared longer at the things they planned to capture on camera.
Christine Diehl is in a hurry to please those who like to photograph their lunch on Instagram (an extremist organization banned in Russia) or share breakfast on Snapchat. Participants were asked to take at least three pictures of their food during each meal. This helped them enjoy their meal more than those who simply ate.
According to Christine Diehl, it’s not the process of filming or even «likes» from friends that attracts us. Planning a future shot, building a composition and presenting the finished result makes us feel happy, live consciously and enjoy what is happening.
So do not forget about social networks during the holidays. There is no camera? No problem. “Take photos mentally,” advises Christine Diehl, “it works just as well.”
1 K. Diehl et. al. «How Taking Photos Increases Enjoyment of Experiences», Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2016, № 6.