The news was unbelievable. It spread like wildfire through social media, instantly becoming a Facebook, LinkedIn LinkedIn and Twitter phenomenon. It exemplified what news organizations, advertisers, and companies had chased for so long—“going viral.” What was it? It was an announcement that the American Psychiatric Association (APA) had officially classified taking ‘Selfies’ as a mental disorder. In fact, the announcement also stated that the APA also claimed to name the disorder ‘Selfitis.’
Unbelievable news? Yes, because it was apparently a hoax from Adobo Chronicles, a website who uses the tagline ‘up-to-date, unbelievable news.’ No mention of this supposed new ‘Sefitis’ disorder can be found on the APA website, and has not been confirmed by any credible source.
Of course, the story, and the validity of the hoax are undeniably amusing. But, what we found more interesting was the fact that the spoof (published on March 31st) became a viral phenomenon almost overnight. Why did so many people latch on to the notion, and share the presumed ‘news’ story without ever questioning whether or not it was valid? Basically, people loved hating ‘Selfies.’ Why?
Oxford officially named ‘Selfie’ the word of the year in 2013. And, although the word ‘Selfie’ might be popular to say, the concept of taking photos of ourselves seems to come with a perception of either narcissism, or, if nothing else, a sense of humor (one that mocks narcissism).
We actually found the viral nature of the hoax (and concept of the ‘Selfie’) so interesting that we scoured the internet to find data from a reputable organization about how many people are actually turned off by the notion of ‘Selfies.’ Of course, we couldn’t find any credible numbers. We simply found a lot of opinions. Nevertheless, we did find one statistic interesting. The PEW Research Center reported that 91% of teenagers have taken a ‘Selfie’, which might suggest a divided perspective between generations. However, we also know plenty of adults who regularly participate in the cultural trend as well.
Still, why did people love the hoax so much, and what can we learn from it?
The cultural phenomenon of the ‘Selfie’ exposes a very basic human desire—to feel noticed, appreciated and recognized. And, although the ‘Selfie’ may not always elicit the most appropriate type of recognition (possibly why people love to hate it), receiving just a few likes from our Facebook or Instagram friends uncovers a foundational aspect of human psychology that can actually help drive results in the workplace—when people are recognized and feel appreciated, they repeat the behavior that was recognized.
A 10-year, 100,000 person study conducted by The O.C. Tanner Institute and HealthStream HealthStream throughout the United States and Canada confirms that recognition tops the list of things employees say they want most from their employers. According to the study, 79% of employees who quit their jobs cite a lack of appreciation as a key reason for leaving. And, of the people who report the highest morale at work, 94.4% agree that their managers are effective at recognizing them. In contrast, only 2.4% of people who have low morale say they have a boss who is great at recognition.
Does the desire to be recognized and appreciated feel like a ‘mental disorder’ now?
A survey of mental health professionals conducted by YourTango.com, revealed that the desire to feel appreciated isn’t just for the workplace either—it’s actually critical to a healthy relationship. According to a survey that was focused on finding the most common issues within a marriage, 65% of respondents cited “communication problems,” as the most common factor that leads to divorce. The top communication complaints by men in couples considering divorce were: nagging/complaining (70%), followed by their spouse not expressing sufficient appreciation (60%). The number one complaint (83%) from women who responded was “a lack of validation for their feelings and opinions” (sounds a lot like ‘recognizing’ feelings and opinions).
Love ‘Selfies’ or hate them, this viral hoax gives us all insights that we can use. It reveals that A) there is a human desire to be recognized and appreciated, and B) we shouldn’t make those people closest to us ask for it.
At work: Learn to practice recognition. Look for the people who help you achieve your goals, the people who make your life easier, or those simply brighten your day. Make sure you applaud people for a job well done, and say “Thank you” for their efforts. The study by The O.C. Tanner Institute and HealthStream suggests that the most effective recognition can drive performance, if recognition is practiced frequently, is specific to a goal or effort, and is given in a timely fashion.
At home: Learn to practice appreciation. It’s often those closest to us who we assume don’t need to hear how much we appreciate them. Tell your partner, your children and your friends why you appreciate what they do. As evidenced by the YourTango.com survey, “communication problems” doesn’t seem to be a lack of communication, but instead, a lack of positive communication. Try it.
Online: Okay, so you can see by our marginal attempt at a ‘Selfie’ that we’re not experts at the “duck face” (in fact, we had to ask a 12-year old what that facial expression was called). But, we are experts in seeing the value of the trends—and culling for deeper insights. Just for a week, intentionally recognize the people around you and keep track of it. You’ll not only get a picture that reveals how good you are at recognizing others, but you’ll probably be shocked by the positive responses you generate.
Learn more about the NYT Bestselling book Great Work: How to Make a Difference People Love.