Interesting Question...

[MarinaTwelve200]

I never could quite get a "image" of my fem self by using a mirror. It is only by photographs can I see "Marina" properly and judge her appearance. I suspect that in a Mirror, one gets only 1 POV and I tend to focus on specific things rather than the image as a whole. I find with photos I can see the "complete image"----and I also can pose and arrange myself to minimize any disparaging masculine characteristics and see what I would REALLY look like as a woman.------I also get to try out different makeup and looks and have a record of them.

Although I CD to entirely "relax" and "take a vacation" from my male self, I Have noticed that there is a hint of AGP in my psyche too.---(I am very big into psychology, even though I am a physical Scientist)--AGP is STILL Legit for people interested in pure Science and not sucking up politically. An occasional review of my pics can often save me the "bother" of having to dress up at times when it may be awkward or inconvenient to do so.

[LilSissyStevie]

My relationship with the mirror is that I need it to apply makeup but once I'm done I don't want to see the result too clearly. The whole point of makeup for me is to obscure (annihilate) my natural features whereas GGs use it to enhance theirs. So I learn makeup techniques from Drag Queens since they are the experts in that area. But Drag style makeup looks best with a little distance. To be pleased with the result I have to remove my glasses and stand back from the mirror. For whatever reason, the look I strive for is reminiscent of the porcelain dolls my grandmother kept in a glass display case. Psychoanalyze THAT! lol!

AGP theory really helped me understand myself but one part that didn't ring true for me was the bit about Erotic Target Location Error. That theory says that AGP is the result of an inverted sexual attraction. In other words, AGPs are attracted to the girl within (or in the mirror) rather than other people. I don't think that's true in my case. My objective in dressing up is to obliterate any sign of masculinity. The reason that it is sexually arousing is that I now feel free to be sexual. In my masculine state I'm so full of past emasculating traumas, hangups, anxiety, dysfunction, and PTSD that I have trouble having any sexual feelings. In my emasculated state the sexual floodgates can open. It helps having an understanding and compassionate mate who is more than a little twisted herself.