Final answer:
People tend to prefer a mirror image of themselves due to the mirror exposure effect, where repeated exposure to a stimulus increases our preference for it. Unlike a normal photograph, a mirror shows us reversed, which is the image we are most familiar with and thus prefer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Preference for Mirror Images
People generally prefer a mirror image of themselves compared to a normal photograph due to a phenomenon known as mirror exposure effect. This effect is part of a suite of cognitive biases that influence our perception and information processing. When we look in a mirror, we see a reversed image of ourselves, which is the version we are accustomed to seeing daily. This familiarity engenders a preference, as the repeated exposure strengthens our affinity for that particular image of ourselves.
Option 1, the mirror exposure effect, therefore, best explains this preference. It's not about confirmation bias, which is the tendency to focus on information in accordance with our existing beliefs, nor is it related to inverted perception preference or cognitive dissonance, which pertains to the discomfort one experiences when holding two contradictory beliefs.
By consistently seeing our mirrored reflection, we become more comfortable with that image, and a normal photograph, which shows us flipped horizontally, appears unfamiliar and less appealing. This inclination aligns with our natural desire for the familiar and can impact our self-perception and social interactions.