The scientists have developed a “Selfitis Behavior Scale” that tests how severe a person’s mental condition truly is. The scale is determined by several factors, but, the scale runs from 1-100. They studied a control group in India–the country with the highest rate of deaths due to selfies–and determined:
“Typically, those with the condition suffer from a lack of self-confidence and are seeking to ‘fit in’ with those around them and may display symptoms similar to other potentially addictive behaviors.”
The scale in which they used is based on a questionnaire given to people potentially suffering from selfitis. Each statement should be answered with a number 1-10–1 being “strongly disagree” and 10 being “strongly agree.” The higher a person’s total score, the more likely it is they are suffering from selfitis.
1. Taking selfies gives me a good feeling to better enjoy my environment
2. Sharing my selfies creates healthy competition with my friends and colleagues
3. I gain enormous attention by sharing my selfies on social media
4. I am able to reduce my stress level by taking selfies
5. I feel confident when I take a selfie6. I gain more acceptance among my peer group when I take selfies and share them on social media
7. I am able to express myself more in my environment through selfies
8. Taking different selfie poses helps increase my social status
9. I feel more popular when I post my selfies on social media
10. Taking more selfies improves my mood and makes me feel happy11. I become more positive about myself when I take selfies
12. I become a strong member of my peer group through selfie postings
13. Taking selfies provides better memories of the experience
14. I post frequent selfies to get more ‘likes’ and comments on social media
15. By posting selfies, I expect my friends to appraise me16. Taking selfies instantly modifies my mood
17. I take more selfies and look at them privately to increase my confidence
18. When I don’t take selfies, I feel detached from my peer group
19. I take selfies as trophies for future memories
20. I use photo editing tools to enhance my selfie to look better than others
So–do you suffer from selfitis?