Article: The mirror has 2 faces; camera picks worst one.

Q: I think I always look better in the mirror than in photographs or videos. What's going on?

A: Not to frighten you, but English serial killer Jason Mitchell claimed to be able to change the shape of his eyes, nose and lips at will to make himself look better in the mirror. Then again, young Jason also heard voices in a chimney.

A more benign explanation lies in what we'll call "selective viewing." Many people, when confronted by a mirror, will avert their gaze from "problem areas" of their bodies. Similarly, they may avoid full-length mirrors or unflattering poses. All of this can lead to a body image that is somewhat out of kilter with reality.

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