When we flip our pictures or see ourselves in the mirror, it can definitely be a bit unsettling. The reason for this is rooted in how our brains have become accustomed to perceiving our own faces.
Firstly, our faces are not perfectly symmetrical. Each half of our face has its own unique set of features, curves, and angles. However, our brain has learned to recognize and interpret these asymmetries as our own familiar face. So, when we see our flipped image, it’s like looking at a completely different face because the asymmetries are now on the opposite side.
Secondly, our perception of our own face is highly influenced by familiarity. We are used to seeing our face in a particular orientation, as we typically view ourselves in mirrors or photographs that haven’t been flipped. This consistent exposure to our face in a specific way creates a mental representation or “internal map” of how our face should look.
When we see our flipped image, this mental representation conflicts with the actual visual input, leading to a sense of unfamiliarity or “weirdness.” Our brain has difficulty reconciling the discrepancies between what it expects to see and what it actually sees.
To further complicate matters, our perception of facial features is influenced by their relative position and orientation. For example, if our eyes are slightly tilted or our nose curves in a particular direction, we become accustomed to seeing these features in that specific arrangement. When we see these features rearranged in a flipped image, they no longer align with our internalized expectations, making us feel like something is off.
Additionally, our brain has a tendency to prioritize certain facial features when processing visual information. For instance, we tend to focus more on the eyes and mouth when recognizing faces. When we see our flipped image, these prioritized features may appear differently than what we’re accustomed to, further contributing to the feeling of looking weird.
It’s important to note that the perception of weirdness when viewing flipped images is subjective and varies from person to person. Some individuals may find it more jarring than others, depending on their level of self-awareness and familiarity with their own face.
When we invert our pictures or see ourselves in a flipped image, it can appear weird because our brain is processing rearranged halves of our face, which do not line up with our internalized expectations. The asymmetries, differences in feature orientation, and unfamiliarity all contribute to this sense of looking strange.