My summer class, Psychological Effects of the Internet, recently covered a topic that I thought might intrigue you. I've watched you take thousands of pictures over the course of my life. You always ask me if you can snap a picture of Allison and I if we can take a selfie with you. I've always wondering why you want to take pictures so badly. It turns out that psychological research can answer my question.
I recently read several research studies regarding how taking pictures may actually enhance our positive life experiences. When people talk about taking pictures, they often say that people are too glued to their cameras to actually enjoy their experiences. Here's an example of what I'm saying.
Three researchers, Gal Zauberman, Alixandra Barasch, and Kristin Diehl completed nine studies which changed the common perception of taking photos. Generally, we view photo taking as something that ruins our trips, parties, and concerts because we're too focused on our cameras or phones. However, the overall consensus of this team's work showed that taking pictures throughout our positive experiences makes our experiences more enjoyable.
Gal Zauberman of Yale University looked into how photography changes your actual experience. He chose to research this topic because he initially thought that the photography would harm a person's experience. However, he had found that people were more engaged in the experiences they had which led to more positive outcomes.
The first article by Andy Lutrell demonstrated that people who take pictures of their experiences are more engaged in their experience and enjoy the experience more. However, if the experience turns out to be negative, people who take photos will more likely notice the bad parts of your experience. Also, if your camera isn't working properly, you will more than likely not enjoy the day.
Another article by Corrinne Purtill demonstrated that taking pictures may dampen one's memory of the experience. The article described a study in which participants in an art museum were asked to recall photos that they had either photographed or just looked at. Those who had taken photos struggled to remember the photos more than those who could not. However, lack of memory did not necessarily equate lack of engagement in the experience.
Overall, Edith, if you're going through a generally positive experience, taking photos will make that experience more enjoyable for the photographer. I think that using a camera is an empowering experience. If you think that hiding behind a camera while traveling will dampen your memories, think again. It may actually make you enjoy the trip more!
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