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Landwehr I, Mundloch K, Schmidt AF. A Dress Is Not a Yes: Towards an Indirect Mouse-Tracking Measure of Men's Overreliance on Global Cues in the Context of Sexual Flirting. Arch Sex Behav 2024:10.1007/s10508-023-02798-x. [PMID: 38326671 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-023-02798-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Assessing another person's intention to flirt and, relatedly, their sexual interest is based on the interpretation and weighting of global (e.g., clothing style) and specific (e.g., facial expression) cues. Since cue incongruency increases the risk of erroneous judgments and thus can entail undesirable outcomes for both parties involved, detection of an individual propensity for overly relying on global (sexual) rather than specific (affective) cues is of social and clinical-forensic importance. Using a purpose-designed and pre-validated stimulus set, we developed a mouse-tracking task as an indirect behavioral measure for males' overreliance on global cues (OGC) in the context of sexual flirting. In a convenience sample of heterosexual cisgender men (N = 79), experimentally induced sexual arousal was shown to increase the probability of OGC as a function of task difficulty (i.e., congruent or incongruent combinations of global and specific cues displayed by a potential female flirting partner). While error rate and reaction time proved to be indicators of OGC, the spatial measures maximum deviation and area under the curve provided less consistent results. In addition, error rate suggested sex drive and sexual objectification to act as moderators of the relationship between sexual arousal and OGC. Exploratory analysis further revealed a theoretically meaningful pattern of correlations between mouse-tracking measures and self-report measures of problematic (e.g., disinhibited, exploitative) sexuality. Implications of the results are discussed and a framework for differentiating potential causes of OGC (i.e., misperception, lack of self-control, and egocentric hedonism) is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingo Landwehr
- Institute of Psychology, Social and Legal Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Binger Str. 14-16, 55122, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Alexander F Schmidt
- Institute of Psychology, Social and Legal Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Binger Str. 14-16, 55122, Mainz, Germany.
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2
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Poon KT, Lai HS, Chan RSW. The Effect of Sexual Objectification on Dishonesty. Arch Sex Behav 2023; 52:1617-1629. [PMID: 36853350 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-023-02560-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
In daily life, women often experience various forms of sexual objectification such as being stared at in public settings and receiving unsolicited sexual remarks on social media. These incidents could have damaging effects on women's physical and mental health, necessitating ways to respond to the experience. Researchers have provided burgeoning evidence demonstrating the effects of sexual objectification on various psychological, emotional, and cognitive outcomes. However, relatively few researchers have tested how sexually objectified people behaviorally react to the objectification experience. To address this knowledge gap, we aimed to test whether sexual objectification increases dishonesty among women and reveal one potential underlying psychological mechanism. We predicted that sexual objectification increases dishonesty serially through higher levels of relative deprivation and lower levels of self-regulation. We conducted two experiments (valid N = 150 and 279, respectively) to test the predictions and found that participants who experienced sexual objectification reported greater dishonest tendencies than those who did not (Experiments 1 and 2). Moreover, relative deprivation and self-regulation serially mediated the effect of sexual objectification on dishonesty (Experiment 2). In the current experiments, we highlight the essential role of relative deprivation and self-regulation in explaining how sexual objectification increases dishonesty and various related forms of antisocial behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Tak Poon
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Psychosocial Health, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Hill-Son Lai
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Psychosocial Health, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong, China
| | - Rheal S W Chan
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Psychosocial Health, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong, China
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3
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Hollett RC, Rogers SL, Florido P, Mosdell B. Body Gaze as a Marker of Sexual Objectification: A New Scale for Pervasive Gaze and Gaze Provocation Behaviors in Heterosexual Women and Men. Arch Sex Behav 2022; 51:2759-2780. [PMID: 35348918 PMCID: PMC9363378 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-022-02290-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Body gaze behavior is assumed to be a key feature of sexual objectification. However, there are few self-report gaze measures available and none capturing behavior which seeks to invite body gaze from others. Across two studies, we used existing self-report instruments and measurement of eye movements to validate a new self-report scale to measure pervasive body gaze behavior and body gaze provocation behavior in heterosexual women and men. In Study 1, participants (N = 1021) completed a survey with newly created items related to pervasive body gaze and body gaze provocation behavior. Participants also completed preexisting measures of body attitudes, sexual assault attitudes, pornography use, and relationship status. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses across independent samples suggested a 12-item scale for men and women to separately measure pervasive body gaze (5 items) and body gaze provocation (7 items) toward the opposite sex. The two scales yielded excellent internal consistency estimates (.86-.89) and promising convergent validity via positive correlations with body and sexual attitudes. In Study 2, a subsample (N = 167) of participants from Study 1 completed an eye-tracking task to capture their gaze behavior toward matched images of partially and fully dressed female and male subjects. Men exhibited body-biased gaze behavior toward all the female imagery, whereas women exhibited head-biased gaze behavior toward fully clothed male imagery. Importantly, self-reported body gaze correlated positively with some aspects of objectively measured body gaze behavior. Both scales showed good test-retest reliability and were positively correlated with sexual assault attitudes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross C Hollett
- Cognition Research Group, Psychology and Criminology, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia.
| | - Shane L Rogers
- Cognition Research Group, Psychology and Criminology, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Prudence Florido
- Cognition Research Group, Psychology and Criminology, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Belinda Mosdell
- Cognition Research Group, Psychology and Criminology, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
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4
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Jiang Y, Wong NH, Chan YC, Poon KT. Lay awake with a racing mind: The associations between sexual objectification, insomnia, and affective symptoms. J Affect Disord 2022; 299:359-66. [PMID: 34915082 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sexual objectification is a form of interpersonal maltreatment that women may experience in daily life. Research has focused on testing how it leads to various psychological distresses. However, little research has examined its influences on women's sleep quality, the underlying psychological mechanisms, and the potential implications for affective symptoms. We addressed this research gap by testing whether sexual objectification predicted perceived stress and insomnia, thereby predicting affective symptoms (i.e., depression and anxiety). We further examined whether sex-is-power beliefs moderated these associations. METHODS Participants completed validated measures of sex-is-power beliefs, sexual objectification, perceived stress, insomnia, depression, and anxiety. We conducted regression analyses, structural equation modeling, and bootstrapping analyses to test the associations between these psychological constructs. RESULTS As predicted, the results showed that sexual objectification was positively associated with perceived stress, insomnia, and affective symptoms. Moreover, perceived stress and insomnia serially mediated the association between sexual objectification and affective symptoms. Furthermore, sex-is-power beliefs moderated the serial mediation effect, such that the effect was only observed among participants with weak sex-is-power beliefs. CONCLUSIONS These findings advanced current theories and knowledge of sexual objectification by demonstrating that sexual objectification is associated with perceived stress and insomnia, thereby predicting affective symptoms. The findings also highlighted the role of beliefs in weakening the negative consequences of sexual objectification.
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5
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Earle M, Prusaczyk E, Choma B, Calogero R. Compliance with COVID-19 safety measures: A test of an objectification theory model. Body Image 2021; 37:6-13. [PMID: 33548665 PMCID: PMC7985150 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
In the present paper, we tested an objectification theory model including compliance with COVID-19 safety measures as an outcome. Safety measures recommended by governments and health organizations include monitoring one's body and interpersonal and social distance from others. We contend that the diffuse safety anxiety stemming from sexual and self-objectification encourages targets to broadly adopt behaviors that protect against body-based dangers, including COVID-19. Accordingly, safety anxiety should predict greater compliance with COVID-19 safety measures. U.S. residents (N = 501) were recruited online and completed measures of sexual objectification, self-objectification, safety anxiety, appearance anxiety, and COVID-19 safety compliance. Two-step mediation analyses revealed a positive indirect effect of sexual objectification on safety anxiety through internalization of observers' perspectives (self-objectification Factor 1); in turn, there was a positive indirect effect of internalized others on COVID-19 body-based safety compliance through safety anxiety. Moreover, women (vs. men) reported higher levels of sexual objectification, internalization of observers' perspectives, safety anxiety, appearance anxiety, and COVID-19 safety measure compliance. Not only is safety anxiety relevant to cautionary behaviors protective against sexual objectification threat, but it also predicts compliance with measures that reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19. Implications for objectification theory are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Earle
- Department of Psychology, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada.
| | - Elvira Prusaczyk
- Department of Psychology, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada.
| | - Becky Choma
- Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada.
| | - Rachel Calogero
- Department of Psychology, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6K 5C2 Canada.
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6
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Xiao L, Wang F. Examining the Links Between Beauty Ideals Internalization, the Objectification of Women, and Ambivalent Sexism Among Chinese Women: The Effects of Sexual Orientation. Arch Sex Behav 2021; 50:553-562. [PMID: 32394113 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-020-01718-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The widespread propagation of beauty ideals has made their influence inescapable for women worldwide. Numerous studies have suggested the negative consequences of the internalization of beauty ideals. However, researchers have mostly focused on Western cultures, with only a few studies addressing China. Given that Chinese traditional Confucian values emphasize more reproduction and family duties of women, women suffer more pressures in China. However, not all women experience and respond to cultural practices in the same way. The present study aimed to examine the mechanism underlying the link between the internalization of beauty ideals and ambivalent sexism and the differences in this link among subgroups of Chinese women. Data were collected from a sample of 293 (146 heterosexual women, 147 sexual minority women). The results showed that the associations of the internalization of beauty ideals with hostile sexism and benevolent sexism were mediated by the objectification of women. Furthermore, the link between the internalization of beauty ideals and the objectification of women depended on women's sexual orientation. More specifically, for lesbian and bisexual women but not heterosexual women, the internalization of beauty ideals was positively associated with the objectification of women. The present study addressed a major gap by examining how and for whom the internalization of beauty ideals was associated with increased hostile sexism and benevolent sexism among Chinese women. Sociocultural factors and implications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijuan Xiao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
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7
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Hidalgo MA, Layland E, Kubicek K, Kipke M. Sexual Racism, Psychological Symptoms, and Mindfulness Among Ethnically/Racially Diverse Young Men Who Have Sex with Men: a Moderation Analysis. Mindfulness (N Y) 2020; 11:452-461. [PMID: 35082927 PMCID: PMC8789003 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-019-01278-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study examined the potential moderating role of trait mindfulness on the association between perceived sexual racism and psychological symptoms among a community-based sample of ethnic/racial minority young men who have sex with men (MSM) residing in greater Los Angeles. METHODS From a cross-sectional sample of 448 participants, aged 16-24 years, survey data were analyzed to examine rates of perceived sexual racism, mindfulness, psychological symptoms, and moderation by mindfulness through various analyses, including analysis of variance and logistic regression. RESULTS Results indicated that Latino young MSM reported the lowest scores of sexual racism, and sexual racism was associated with higher odds of psychological symptoms, suicidal ideation with a plan in the past year, and self-injury in the past 3 months. The protective potential of mindfulness was suggested by its main effects on psychological symptoms; however, it only buffered the effects of sexual racism on suicidal ideation with a plan and self-injury, with marginal buffering effects on depression. CONCLUSIONS Findings underscore the potential utility of assessing sexual racism among young MSM of color, as well as the potential benefit of mindfulness approaches to buffer the effects of sexual racism on symptoms of depression. Interpretation of these findings is briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco A. Hidalgo
- Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Blvd., MS#2, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Eric Layland
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Katrina Kubicek
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michele Kipke
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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8
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Dunn CE, Hood KB, Owens BD. Loving myself through thick and thin: Appearance contingent self-worth, gendered racial microaggressions and African American women's body appreciation. Body Image 2019; 30:121-126. [PMID: 31238277 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Revised: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Contrary to previous literature, recent studies have indicated that African American women are reporting similar rates of body dissatisfaction as their European American counterparts. Yet, little is known about contextual factors, such as gendered racial microaggressions and their association with body appreciation, and whether appearance contingent self-worth accounts for this relationship. Consistent with intersectionality theory, this study examined appearance-contingent self-worth as a mediator between stress related to experiencing sexually objectifying gendered racial microaggressions and body appreciation. African American emerging adult women (N = 143), predominately from the Southern United States, completed a self-report measure of gendered racial microaggressions, appearance contingent self-worth, and body appreciation. Results demonstrated that appearance contingent self-worth, at least in part, mediated the relationship between stress related to gendered racial microaggressions and African American women's appreciation for their bodies. It is imperative future body image interventions aimed at African American emerging adult women address factors, such as appearance contingent self-worth and gendered racial microaggressions, in their efforts improve body appreciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsie E Dunn
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 W. Franklin St. Box 842018, Richmond, VA, 23284 USA.
| | - Kristina B Hood
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 W. Franklin St. Box 842018, Richmond, VA, 23284 USA.
| | - Bianca D Owens
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 W. Franklin St. Box 842018, Richmond, VA, 23284 USA.
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9
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Andrighetto L, Bracco F, Chiorri C, Masini M, Passarelli M, Piccinno TF. Now you see me, now you don't: detecting sexual objectification through a change blindness paradigm. Cogn Process 2019; 20:419-29. [PMID: 31435750 DOI: 10.1007/s10339-019-00927-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The goal of this work is to provide evidence for the cognitive objectification of sexualized targets via a change blindness paradigm. Since sexual objectification involves a fragmented perception of the target in which individuating features (i.e., the face) have less information potential than sexualized features (i.e., body parts), we hypothesized that changes in faces of sexualized targets would be detected with less accuracy than changes in faces of nonsexualized targets. Conversely, we expected that changes in body parts would be detected with higher accuracy for sexualized than nonsexualized targets. These hypotheses were supported by the results of two studies that employed a change blindness task in which stimuli with changes both to faces and bodies of sexualized and nonsexualized images were presented. Unexpectedly, the hypothesized effects emerged both for female and male targets.
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10
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Dafferner M, Campagna J, Rodgers RF. Making gains: Hypermuscularity and objectification of male and female Olympic athletes in Sports Illustrated across 60 years. Body Image 2019; 29:156-160. [PMID: 31051392 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Female athletes have disproportionately lacked media coverage. The depictions that do exist have typically been sexualized, which has been described as trivializing their accomplishments. It is unclear, however, to what extent the gender differences in the amount and types of media representations of athletes are evolving with time. In addition, trends in increasing muscularity in media depictions of athletes have not been examined. The aims of this study were therefore to examine gender differences in levels of muscularity and gendered and objectified portrayals of summer Olympic athletes (N = 78) depicted on the covers of Sports Illustrated over the last 60 years. Findings from this content analysis suggested that while female athletes are achieving greater media representation, significant gender differences still exist, with female athletes more likely to be depicted in sexually objectified ways. Findings also revealed that athletic bodies portrayed in the media have progressively become more muscular. Further efforts to close the gender gaps in depictions of athletes in the media are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- MacKenzie Dafferner
- APPEAR, Department of Applied Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, USA
| | - Jenna Campagna
- APPEAR, Department of Applied Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, USA
| | - Rachel F Rodgers
- APPEAR, Department of Applied Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, USA; Department of Psychiatric Emergency & Acute Care, Lapeyronie Hospital, CHRU Montpellier, France.
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11
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Vendemia MA, DeAndrea DC. The effects of viewing thin, sexualized selfies on Instagram: Investigating the role of image source and awareness of photo editing practices. Body Image 2018; 27:118-127. [PMID: 30243124 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
This experiment examined how features of images shared on social media sites, such as Instagram, impact and are evaluated by young adult female users. Specifically, we examined conditions under which female viewers (N = 360, Mage = 20.34, SD = 2.74) were more or less likely to internalize the thin ideal after viewing other women's selfies (i.e., images taken of oneself by oneself) posted on Instagram that depicted the thin ideal. We also examined how female viewers evaluated women who posted these selfies. Results indicated that the more female viewers believed that the women digitally modified or altered their selfies, the less likely viewers were to internalize the thin ideal. In addition, the more female viewers believed the women digitally modified their selfies and the more they believed the women were their offline peers (vs. models), the more negatively (e.g., less intelligent, less honest) they evaluated the women. Explanations for why awareness of photo modification and different image sources (peers vs. models) influence evaluations of selfies are discussed.
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12
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Cogoni C, Carnaghi A, Silani G. Reduced empathic responses for sexually objectified women: An fMRI investigation. Cortex 2017; 99:258-272. [PMID: 29294431 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2017.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Revised: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Sexual objectification is a widespread phenomenon characterized by a focus on the individual's physical appearance over his/her mental state. This has been associated with negative social consequences, as objectified individuals are judged to be less human, competent, and moral. Moreover, behavioral responses toward the person change as a function of the degree of the perceived sexual objectification. In the present study, we investigated how behavioral and neural representations of other social pain are modulated by the degree of sexual objectification of the target. Using a within-subject fMRI design, we found reduced empathic feelings for positive (but not negative) emotions toward sexually objectified women as compared to non-objectified (personalized) women when witnessing their participation to a ball-tossing game. At the brain level, empathy for social exclusion of personalized women recruited areas coding the affective component of pain (i.e., anterior insula and cingulate cortex), the somatosensory components of pain (i.e., posterior insula and secondary somatosensory cortex) together with the mentalizing network (i.e., middle frontal cortex) to a greater extent than for the sexually objectified women. This diminished empathy is discussed in light of the gender-based violence that is afflicting the modern society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlotta Cogoni
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy; Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Neuroscience Sector, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Andrea Carnaghi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della vita, Università degli studi di Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Giorgia Silani
- Department of Applied Psychology: Health, Development, Enhancement and Intervention, University of Vienna, Austria.
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13
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Krawczyk R, Thompson JK. The effects of advertisements that sexually objectify women on state body dissatisfaction and judgments of women: The moderating roles of gender and internalization. Body Image 2015; 15:109-19. [PMID: 26363356 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2014] [Revised: 07/27/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Experimental studies have demonstrated that exposure to idealized images of women increases state body image disturbance. However, little work has experimentally examined the effects of exposure to images that sexually objectify women, especially as it relates to women and men's state body dissatisfaction and judgments of women. In the current study, 437 women and men were randomly assigned to view advertisements that sexually objectify women and portray appearance ideals, or to view non-appearance-related advertisements. Results indicated that state body dissatisfaction increased for women and men exposed to advertisements that sexually objectified women, although this effect was larger for women. Trait internalization of appearance ideals moderated this effect, indicating that women and men with higher internalization exhibited greater state body dissatisfaction after viewing women sexually objectified in advertisements. Exposure to women sexually objectified in advertisements did not affect women's or men's attractiveness or competence ratings of women in university advertisements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross Krawczyk
- The College of Saint Rose, Department of Psychology, 432 Western Ave, Albany, NY 12203, USA; University of South Florida, Department of Psychology, 4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
| | - J Kevin Thompson
- University of South Florida, Department of Psychology, 4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
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14
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Ghaznavi J, Taylor LD. Bones, body parts, and sex appeal: An analysis of #thinspiration images on popular social media. Body Image 2015; 14:54-61. [PMID: 25880783 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2014] [Revised: 02/08/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The present study extends research on thinspiration images, visual and/or textual images intended to inspire weight loss, from pro-eating disorder websites to popular photo-sharing social media websites. The article reports on a systematic content analysis of thinspiration images (N=300) on Twitter and Pinterest. Images tended to be sexually suggestive and objectifying with a focus on ultra-thin, bony, scantily-clad women. Results indicated that particular social media channels and labels (i.e., tags) were characterized by more segmented, bony content and greater social endorsement compared to others. In light of theories of media influence, results offer insight into the potentially harmful effects of exposure to sexually suggestive and objectifying content in large online communities on body image, quality of life, and mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jannath Ghaznavi
- Department of Communication, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.
| | - Laramie D Taylor
- Department of Communication, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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15
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Schmidt AF, Kistemaker LM. The sexualized-body-inversion hypothesis revisited: valid indicator of sexual objectification or methodological artifact? Cognition 2014; 134:77-84. [PMID: 25460381 DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2014.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2013] [Revised: 08/05/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Recently, Bernard, Gervais, Allen, Campomizzi, and Klein (2012) reported that individuals were less able to recognize inverted vs. upright pictures of sexualized men as compared to women. Based on their formulation of the sexualized-body-inversion hypothesis (SBIH) it was concluded that sexualized women as compared to men are perceived in a more object-like manner supporting sexual objectification (SO) of females - independent from observer gender. We challenge this interpretation and hypothesize that the originally reported effect is the result of a methodological artifact due to gender-symmetry and stimuli setup-symmetry confounds in the original stimulus set. We tested this theoretically more parsimonious account in a methodologically stricter and extended conceptual replication of the putative SO-effect. Results from two studies showed that the original stimulus set indeed suffered from symmetry confounds and that these are necessary boundary-conditions in order for the hypothetical SO-effect to occur. It is concluded that the SBIH as postulated by Bernard et al. (2012) is based on a methodological artifact and cannot be related to SO but symmetry detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander F Schmidt
- Department of Psychology, Social and Legal Psychology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; Institute for Health and Behaviour, INSIDE Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, Walferdange, Luxembourg.
| | - Lisa M Kistemaker
- Department of Psychology, Social and Legal Psychology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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