Bailey Wolf, Jessie Fernandes, Lael Williams, Mariah Helm.

Selfie vs Ussie
What makes a selfie?

Question:
1. Does the amount of space taken up in the photo correlate with a 
higher level of dominance? 
2. What does eye behavior convey? 
3. How is intent reflected by each subject? 
4. How does mouth positioning affect the quality of the selfie/ussie? 
Hypothesis: 
We predict that the standards for a good selfie will differ from the 
standards of a good ussie in the following ways: 
1. Selfies will portray higher levels of dominance because the 
individual is the only shown subject 
2. Ussies will portray higher levels of eye expressiveness because of 
increased simulation due to the presence of others 
3. Selfies will reflect higher levels of perceived sexiness, body 
satisfaction, and personality portrayal 
4. Ussies will be more experience,environment, and people focused 
because of the intent with which the picture was taken  
 

i. Level of Dominance (RQ1)- Do they take more

space? Do they seem more confident? [yes--
confidence, narcissism, assertiveness]
1. Dominance- Gesture
2. % of picture- Background
a. Selfies have a more dominant look
b. Low error
c. Significant results
ii. Expressiveness of Eyes (RQ2) How much eye
expressiveness? Are they looking at the camera?
Why does the eye behavior differ? [sexy, trendy,
 lifestyle] [everyone sends pictures they look good
in, why]
1. Eye behavior
2. Expressiveness of eyes
a. 1/3 significant (1- eye behavior)
b. Selfies less likely to look directly at camera
iii. Reason (RQ3)
1. I look good in this
2. Describes my lifestyle*
3. Reflects my personality
4. I look sexy*
5. Trendy style*
6. Shows brand I like
a. 3/6 significant (trendy, sexy, lifestyle)
b. Lifestyle- ussie more important
c. Sexy- selfie is higher
d. Trendy- Selfie is higher
iv. Mouth positioning (RQ4) [chi square, cross-tab]
1. Mouth position- facial expression
2. Expressiveness
a. Smile v. Not Smiling
b. (ussies smile more than selfies)
c. Ussie- more open--- toothy to open---total %
sum of ussie (2)
d. Selfie- greater range neutral to smil to
toothy--- total % sum of selfie (3)
e. = these are not equal (mouth categories are
unequally divided)
1. ​Research question 1 asked, “does space taken in photo correlate with a 
higher level of dominance?” 
Results from a t-test indicate that there is a ​significant difference​ between 
dominant gestures and how much of a picture is taken up by the subject. 
Dominance in Selfies (x=115, SD= 1.012) is significantly greater than 
Dominance in Ussies (x=131, SD=.711). ​Selfies are more likely to show 
Dominance than Ussies.​ T​244​= 5.802, p=.000 

2. Research question 2 asked, “What does eye behavior convey?”  

Results from a t-test indicate there is ​not a significant difference​ between 

eyes, eye behavior, and expressiveness as it relates to Selfies vs. Ussies. 
Eye behavior does not convey anything in the comparison of Selfies vs. 
Ussies. However, there was some evidence stating selfies look at the 
camera less than in Ussies.  

Eyes: T​234​= -1.327, ns 

Eye Behavior: ​ ​T​243​= 2.356, ns 

Eye Expression: T​236​= -.620, ns 

3. Research question 3 asked, “What is the Reason behind the Selfie vs. 
Ussie?”  

Results from a t-test indicate there is ​not a significant difference​ between 

perceived, ‘I look good’ (T​240​= 1.499,ns), Brand (T​240​= 1.676,ns), as well as 
personality portrayal (T​240​= .574,ns) in Selfies and Ussies.  

However, a ​statistically significant difference is evident in Lifestyle 

description (T​239​= -3.648,p=.000), Trendiness (T​239​= 2.892, p=.004), and 
perceived sexiness (T​239​= 3.296,p=.001). Lifestyle is more important in 
Ussies while sexiness and trendiness is held higher in Selfies. 

4. Research question 4 asked, “How does mouth positioning affect the 

quality of the selfie/ussie?” 

Results from a chi-square indicate the ​categories of smiles were 

significantly different​ in specific groups for Ussies and Selfies (X​2​8​ = 63.117, 
p <.000). For Selfies, neutral (n=18, 16.4%), toothy (n=28, 25.5%), and smile- 
no teeth (n=30, 27.3%) were most common. Their sum total was 69.2%. For 
Ussies, open mouth (n=25, 19.5%) and toothy (n=82, 64.1) were most 
common. ​A good Selfie smile has a greater range than a good Ussie.​ An 
Ussie, however, is more likely to be toothy.  

Conclusion: 

● The presence of people in an Ussie often changes subject’s pose, felt 

emotion, and intent of picture taking  
● A favorable Selfie typically reflects physicality because there often 
aren’t other factors in the photo 
● Selfies are often narcissistic in nature (Inc.)