The thickness of Social Masks
When was the last time you felt like yourself? A moment you felt free from all the eyes of the world, a moment where you felt absolute bliss about a thought, a feeling or a decision?
The purpose of The Real Self Immersion is all about getting deep into the human experience. It's a show where you can be yourself while staying anonymous, thanks to a white vest, gloves and a mask. There are no traditional actors; we (the audience) take the spotlight. With a Spanish voiceover, original music, and 360° mapping, I went on a 75-minute adventure, feeling everything from freedom to deep thoughts, provoking personal discovery questions and sharing moments with strangers.
Since I’ve been a psychology enthusiast for the last decade, I was very okay with dealing with a couple of questions. Still, you could feel the tension among people when they had to decide for one side or the other due to how difficult it may be to answer them to yourself (even if you’re free from external judgment).
From topics from happiness to moral standards, the connection with people you don’t know (+ being anonymous) stood out the most for me. Being quite reserved, even very empathetic, opening physical space for strangers was tough - but I was extremely excited to try it out. Don’t worry, nothing happens without consent, and it was very simple like holding hands, a hug or looking them in the eye for more than a minute.
This experience, besides having to meet the commercial standards to be digestible to a greater audience (like having a very party-ish approach at the beginning so people can relax and get into the experience more open-minded), made me feel, within the body, the thickness of the mask layer we develop to survive in society.
We already know that it’s part of human nature to develop a social mask (and sometimes we buy this idea that this is our real identity), but a social mask (or persona) is not just a tool; it’s a way to navigate the complex world around us.
Research conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) suggests that nearly 95% of individuals admit to acting differently in various social situations.
It can bring social harmony, reduce conflicts in interactions, serve as protection: hiding our true vulnerabilities and emotions, and help project confidence, competence and leadership when well crafted and developed. But also leads us towards inauthenticity, emotional suppression, and relationship strains (creating distance between people) leading to an identity crisis.
We all know that it’s impossible to remove all those layers since we have many masks: how we speak to our best friends, partners, family members and coworkers are different because the dynamics of each relationship require different behaviors.
Studies in positive psychology, including those in the "Journal of Happiness Studies," suggest that individuals who embrace authenticity tend to experience higher levels of life satisfaction and well-being.
To deal with it, we need self-awareness and a balanced approach such as reflecting on our experiences and motivations for using a social mask and acknowledging its purpose in adapting while protecting yourself. Use this awareness as an opportunity for personal growth; look for a balance that works for you in different situations. Cultivating a supportive group that accepts you for who you are also helps!
So, here’s a short clip on the pre and post-event experience.
