With the invention of mirrors and image technologies, the individual gained the opportunity to view themselves externally — a shift that profoundly transformed self-perception, the source of self-esteem, and social relations.
Starting from the mythological understanding that “man was not created to see himself,” the objectification of the self, the phenomenon of the spectacle self, and the conflict between appearing and being have emerged.
Throughout history, the way humans perceive themselves has undergone a major transformation. In ancient times, the individual defined themselves only through inner experiences and the reactions of others. In the modern age, however, they have become a being who can “see themselves from the outside” through mirrors, photographs, and screens.
This transformation has produced a structural rupture in human self-awareness. The “I” is no longer just a subject who lives, but also an object that is watched, evaluated, and compared (Cooley, 1902; Goffman, 1959).
The Narcissus Myth And The Roots Of Modern Selfhood
The origin of this transformation can be traced back to the myth of Narcissus.
Narcissus perishes because he falls in love with his own reflection and cannot unite with it. This myth symbolizes the destructive nature of fixation on one’s own image.
Similarly, modern individuals have become captivated by the allure of their own reflections. In the era described by Guy Debord’s (1967) concept of the “Society of the Spectacle,” the individual does not merely live but feels compelled to display and make life visible.
This new form of identity — the spectacle self — finds its most visible arena in social media, where the individual is both the watcher and the watched.
The Psychological Tension Of The Spectacle Self
This dual position drives self-awareness to extreme levels, generating psychological tension.
Individuals begin investing not in their real lives, but in their visibility.
Studies show that this condition correlates with self-objectification, narcissism, and feelings of inadequacy (Casale & Fioravanti, 2018).
As people continually monitor themselves, they drift away from authentic experience; the coherence of the external image starts to outweigh emotional authenticity.
In modern psychology, the gap between the “authentic self” and the “presented self” is regarded as a key determinant of identity integrity (Rogers, 1961).
On social media, appearing has often become more significant than being.
This widening gap between internal experience and external representation leads to spiritual alienation and fragmentation of the self.
The Paradox Of Perfection And Psychopathological Outcomes
Even when an individual appears “perfect” outwardly, they may internally feel worthless, inauthentic, and emotionally exhausted.
This contradiction manifests through depressive symptoms, body image disorders, and social anxiety (APA, 2021).
Among younger generations, the feeling of “having to display oneself” fosters performance anxiety and transforms into a constant state of “feeling watched.”
Pressure from family and social environments exacerbates this distress, deepening rather than resolving psychological tension.
Screens, Mirrors, And The New Narcissistic Trap
Narcissus’s imprisonment in his reflection serves as a mythological precursor to modern humanity’s entrapment within screens.
Today, individuals exist not only through the gaze of others but through the cold reflections of cameras and mirrors.
While this intensifies narcissistic tendencies, it paradoxically fuels self-dissatisfaction — because one can never fully align with their idealized image (Lundgren et al., 2020).
Thus, “seeing oneself” is not an innate human condition but a cultural and technological construct.
Human psychology is not designed for constant self-surveillance and evaluation.
As a result, the modern era’s visual self culture rests upon a psychologically fragile foundation.
Objectification Of The Self And Spiritual Alienation
The statement “man was not created to see himself” is not merely mythological — it is also psychological truth.
The objectification of the self has distanced individuals from their inner worlds, creating dependence on visibility, approval, and image maintenance.
The modern human has thus become both the observer and the observed, embodying a paradox of selfhood.
This is not just a personal dysfunction but a collective psychopathology, reflecting a culture obsessed with spectacle and external validation.
Toward Healing: From Being Seen To Feeling
Psychological healing may lie in returning to feeling rather than being seen — a reorientation toward inner experience and self-connection.
Therapeutic practices such as:
-
Mirror exposure,
-
Social media detox, and
-
Self-compassion-based exercises,
can help individuals rediscover themselves as living, feeling, and experiencing subjects, not merely visual objects.
Ultimately, by reducing dependency on external approval and strengthening the internal locus of control, individuals can achieve a more integrated and authentic self-perception rooted in being rather than appearing.
This approach offers a therapeutic direction for escaping the psychopathological spiral created by contemporary narcissistic culture.