How face mask wearing affects the sense of self
Breathing as a case of disrupted bodily self-consciousness
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21591902 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Marta Calbi (0000-0001-7555-0611, University of Milan, corresponding author), Chiara Cappelletto (0000-0003-3102-3996, University of Milan) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 38 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages | 2517-2541 |
| Publication date | 2025-08-18 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Philosophical Psychology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0951-5089 • E-ISSN: 1465-394X |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/09515089.2024.2341791 |
| OpenAlex | W4395044249 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 66 |
This pioneer study focuses on the feedback effect that the face mask has on its wearer’s sense of Self (i.e. bodily Self-consciousness) caused by its multisensorial components and affordances which are taken into account from a first-person perspective approach. On the grounds of enactivism and Material Engagement Theory, we run qualitative semi-structured interviews recruiting 48 participants: 24 people had no experience using lower face coverings before COVID-19 pandemic (February 2020) and 24 people were hospital workers with such prior experience. Results show that face mask wearing dramatically updates bodily Self-consciousness retroacting on breathing experience, with differences between the two groups. This is consistent with evidence showing that breathing is “transparent” unless bodily, environmental, and/or emotional changes arouse a situated awareness of it. We conclude that the face mask performs a retroactive effect, which we explained as due to a “material performative agency” that significantly modifies the standard balance between the transparency and the opacity of our bodily Self-consciousness
Aesthetics · Cognitive psychology · Cognitive science · Consciousness · Psychology of self · Self · Self-awareness · Self-consciousness · Color perception and design · Multisensory perception and integration · Neuroscience · Philosophy · Psychology · Social Psychology · Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts
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| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |