Facebook Profile picture

What does facebook profile picture tells about persons psychology?

Someone puts his/her pictures
Someone puts his/her children's pic
Someone puts their couple pictures
Someone puts just scenery or quotes or other generic stuff
Someone puts group pics

Profile pic or cover photo? For the first five it's pretty easy to make plausible and probably accurate guesses.
What do you think?

Erm, ... I imagine that would depend on the picture. x_x Lots of variables. I've never really put much thought into it, but I suppose it really can say a lot about a person, if you're willing to look hard enough; perhaps the same can be said for our avatars on PC.

Great minds think alike

Personally, I think it's silly to put a pic of your kid or another person as your avatar. (on facebook). A few years ago a good friend passed away and many of my fb friends knew her, and a lot of them put her pic as their avatar. It was weird. I switch between my own (recent) pic and things in nature.

I suppose when they use pics of kids or grandkids they are showing them off. I don't have a problem with that, as I like to show my own off too, but my avatar represents me, not someone else.

Someone who puts his/her picture is confident

They feel their life is full with their children. They are showing off

They are happy couples and love to show off

these people aren't confident

They don't want to come in limelight

I disagree and find it to be illogical, as Tuvok from Voyager would put it. xD There are many individuals who indeed lack confidence, however, they still display an image of themselves for all to see. *Tuvok voice*

I also can't help but to think this is a little arbitrary. I'm sure there are people here who have kids, and perhaps stick pictures of them on their Facebook, but do not feel as though they are living a full life. To be fair, neither of us can say for sure.

I'm actually more inclined to agree with you on this one. I always get the feeling couples are showing off when they litter their Facebook and what-not with pictures of them together, typically kissing, smiling, hugging, etc. I'm guilty of this, myself. xD

There could be any number of reasons for not showing an image of themselves, or rather, showing an image of something like scenery, but I suppose it sounds plausible.

I'd personally go with them wanting to show that they are social; that they are not alone; that they matter. If I had such a picture of that as my Facebook avatar, it would honestly, most likely be for that purpose, albeit sub-consciously; when I think about it, it makes sense, at least for me. They might even do that to look more appealing to the opposite sex, especially if they're hanging around with the same gender as the one they wish to attract. (adjust as necessary for different sexualities)

What happens when there's a variation, due to new photos that they like?

I put my own photo as my profile picture because it's my profile? I think people have a right to see who is posting etc. But yeah...there are the totally vomit worthy ones (people taking their own picture in the reflection of glass comes to mind).

As for those with kid or group photos...i think it just suggests they have a healthy interest in what's important in their lives, though to be honest i don't find it that useful in terms of identifying people etc.

Generic ones seem to me to be either a lack of confidence or a concern with privacy.

Just my thoughts anyhow...

I do not have a face book. Next time I am at a book store I will have to take a look.

[QUOTE=Jom Tones:

I'm with you on this one. I did have one when I was way younger though and anyone who posted daily pics of their babies were secretly removed from my feed. Then when I ran into them in real life and they'd ask me about certain photos, it would be pretty awkward.

I'm sorry if I sound offensive but I have never cared about other people's children. Maybe it's because I was a waitress for years. I think that can turn anyone off kids.

I use my own pic so when people search my name they can tell in an instant if they have found the right person.

Oh wait, I closed my account because I am a recluse and don't want anyone to find me!

My pic on FB is all 3 of my eskie dogs.....the people who know me already know what I look like so it doesn't matter

Heh. I usually avoid those sorts of pictures, but I have a couple myself, because... I don't really see what's wrong with it, to be honest; it's practical. Sure beats trying to place the camera somewhere that's level, then pressing the button and quickly trying to get in place, without having a clue how it looks. xD

What is face book? does it grow in a forest, or is it a mirror?

What it all means absolutely depends on the person. I'm fine with whatever a person chooses as their profile picture. I only use Facebook to play one particular game, so I don't have a photo at all. I wouldn't be looking at it, so there's no point.

I think it would be terribly simplistic to try and psycho-analyze someone based on what pics they post on fb.

People are much too complex to try and boil it down to a formula.

And, besides, generalizations are dangerous by their very nature.

Moods change, interests change---and people's needs for privacy and security also change fairly regularly.

There are all different levels of openness and familiarity there. So try not to over-simplify something that is actually terribly complex, and based solely on appearances (always a tricky thing!).

Hmm..
I used to have my own picture as my avatar on FB. now i have a drawing that represents me. and the cover picture was of a quote i found in a store one day and took a picture of, until about a year ago, when i made a graphic of a few pics of me as a lil kid.
my reasoning was, avatar = current, cover photo (that appears behind the avatar but above everything else) = past

And many years ago, i made one of my cats a FB account. XD i never sign into it anymore, but i used to also use her account for games, when i didn't have very many neighbors.

but i've really tried to tone it down with the self perceptions type of things. it can come off as being self center (in my experience), so even tho i dont mean it that way, i'm a lot more distant in my activities and speaking on FB..
really the only thing i use FB for anymore is for the games.

I think it would be much like interpreting someone else's dream. a person really has to know the other person, to really get an accurate meaning of the origin that it is produced in.
(that's only a personal opinion tho).