The moderating role of exhibitionism in the relationship between psychological needs and selfie-posting behavior

Abstract

The study investigated the moderating role of exhibitionism in the relationship between psychological needs (i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness) and selfie-posting behavior. The study proposed a research model by extending the “self-determination theory” with exhibitionism to better explain selfie-posting behavior. Structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was employed to test the proposed model based on data obtained from 316 social media users in New Delhi, India. Results indicated that psychological needs for relatedness, competence, and autonomy significantly predict selfie-posting behavior. Further, results of the multi-group analysis indicated that level of exhibitionism plays a moderating role in the relationship between psychological needs and selfie-posting behavior. The findings suggested that individuals with a higher level of exhibitionism more tend to post selfies on social media to satisfy their needs for competence and relatedness.