Examining Objectification Theory

2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 745-776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie S. Hill ◽  
Ann R. Fischer
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Objectification Theory ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sexual Objectification ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Women's Bodies ◽  
Heterosexual Women ◽  
Self Objectification ◽  
The Relationship

Many theorists have suggested that living in a culture in which women's bodies are sexually objectified socializes girls and women to treat themselves as objects. This study developed a theory-based measure of cultural sexual objectification and explored the relationship between women's reports of cultural sexual objectification experiences and self-objectification. The possible moderating effects of sexual orientation were explored using hierarchical moderated regressions. The major findings, in a sample of 361 women, were (a) women's reports of sexualized gaze/harassment were significantly related to their own self-objectification, (b) lesbian and heterosexual women reported similar levels of sexualized gaze/harassment, and (c) the relationship between sexualized gaze/harassment and self-objectification was not significantly different for the lesbian and heterosexual subsamples. Potential implications for counseling and directions for future research are discussed.

The Gendered Body Project: Motivational Components of Objectification Theory

2012 ◽  
pp. 322-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomi-Ann Roberts ◽  
Patricia L. Waters
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Objectification Theory ◽  
Sexual Objectification ◽  
Women's Bodies ◽  
Psychology Of Women ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Body Project ◽  
Objectification Of Women ◽  
Patriarchal Power ◽  
Self Objectification

In this chapter, we attempt to explore the motivational questions that arise when we view the psychology of women through the lens of objectification theory, which highlights the centrality of appearance concerns, or “body projects,” for girls and women today. We examine theoretical perspectives on what motivates the sexual objectification of women, considering the ways this treatment may reflect an adaptive evolutionary mating strategy, may serve as a tool for the maintenance of patriarchal power, or may lend existential “protection” against the creaturely, death reminders that women's bodies provide. We then investigate both developmental processes and situational/contextual features that motivate girls and women to internalize a sexually objectifying view on their physical selves. And, finally, we review evidence that self-objectification, though motivating in itself, carries significant consequences for their health and well-being.

How Sexual Objectification Generates Dehumanization in Western and Eastern Cultures

2018 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Wollast ◽  
Elisa Puvia ◽  
Philippe Bernard ◽  
Passagorn Tevichapong ◽  
Olivier Klein
Keyword(s):  
Social Perception ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Objectification Theory ◽  
Southeast Asian ◽  
Sexual Objectification ◽  
Intense Pain ◽  
Eastern Cultures ◽  
Theory Research ◽  
Self Objectification ◽  
Asian Sample

Abstract. Ever since Fredrickson and Roberts (1997) proposed objectification theory, research on self-objectification and – by extension – other-objectification has experienced a considerable expansion. However, most of the studies on sexual objectification have been conducted solely in Western populations. This study investigates whether the effect of target sexualization on social perception differs as a function of culture (Western vs. Eastern). Specifically, we asked a Western sample (Belgian, N = 62) and a Southeast Asian sample (Thai, N = 98) to rate sexualized versus nonsexualized targets. We found that sexual objectification results in dehumanization in both Western (Belgium) and Eastern (Thailand) cultures. Specifically, participants from both countries attributed less competence and less agency to sexualized than to nonsexualized targets, and they reported that they would administer more intense pain to sexualized than to nonsexualized targets. Thus, building on past research, this study suggests that the effect of target sexualization on dehumanization is a more general rather than a culture-specific phenomenon.

Self-Objectification and Its Psychological Outcomes for College Women

2002 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 371-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer J. Muehlenkamp ◽  
Renee N. Saris-Baglama
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Objectification Theory ◽  
Psychological Outcomes ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Restrictive Eating ◽  
Bulimic Symptoms ◽  
Objectification Of Women ◽  
Self Objectification ◽  
The Relationship

The objectification of women by our society can become internalized by women, resulting in negative psychological outcomes. Using Fredrickson and Roberts' (1997) objectification theory, we tested a model of the relationships between self-objectification and disordered eating and depressive symptoms in a sample of undergraduate women ( n = 384). One postulate of self-objectification theory is that self-objectification can lead to a lack of internal awareness, which may mediate the relationship between self-objectification and restrictive eating, bulimic, and depressive symptoms. Results of structural equation modeling suggest that self-objectification has a direct relationship to restrictive eating, bulimic, and depressive symptoms. The mediational role of internal awareness was relevant for depressive symptoms but not for restrictive eating or bulimic symptoms. Depressive symptoms did, however, mediate the relationship between self-objectification and bulimic symptoms. The relevance of our findings to the understanding of objectification theory are discussed and future areas of research recommended.

scholarly journals Predeath Grief, Resourcefulness, and Perceived Stress Among Caregivers of Partners With Young-Onset Dementia

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (7) ◽  
pp. 973-989 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karie Ruekert Kobiske ◽  
Abir K. Bekhet ◽  
Mauricio Garnier-Villarreal ◽  
Marilyn Frenn
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Resilience Theory ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Young Onset ◽  
Young Onset Dementia ◽  
The Relationship

More than 200,000 Americans are currently diagnosed with young-onset dementia (YOD). YOD is dementia diagnosed prior to the age of 65. Most persons of YOD are cared for by their partners. Using the theoretical framework of Resilience Theory, this cross-sectional, correlational study examined the moderating effects of personal and social resourcefulness on the relationship between predeath grief and perceived stress among 104 YOD caregiving partners (life partners/spouses) using an online survey platform. Results indicated a large positive correlation between predeath grief and caregiver perceived stress ( r = .65; p < .001). Together predeath grief, personal resourcefulness and social resourcefulness explained 51.5% of the variance in perceived stress. Personal resourcefulness did not moderate the relationship. Social resourcefulness did positively moderate this relationship between predeath grief and perceived stress. These findings allow for a better understanding of the caregiving experience for a partner with YOD and creates opportunities for future research studies.

Family influences in the internationalization of the top 1,000 Taiwanese enterprises

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-145
Author(s):  
Yu-Chen Wei ◽  
Chiung-Wen Tsao
Keyword(s):  
Research Design ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Family Influence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
International Expansion ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Market Expansion ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the moderating effects of employee commitment, customer loyalty and corporate reputation on the relationship between family influence and international expansion. Design/methodology/approach A cross-national research design was conducted using both survey and secondary data of 119 firms taken from the top 1,000 Taiwanese enterprises. Findings This study found moderating effects in the positive impact of family influence on international expansion. Specifically, the study found the relationship between family influence and international expansion stronger for companies with greater relational support from employees, customers and the public. Research limitations/implications Multi-level data collection and a longitudinal research design in future research could help in further understanding the relationships between the variables in this study. Practical implications This paper suggests that family business should establish enduring relationship with their employees and customers and have a plan to improve family reputation that will benefit international market expansion. Originality/value This study draws on the relational perspective to investigate how family influence results in different international expansion.

Self-Objectification, Risk Taking, and Self-Harm in College Women

2005 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer J. Muehlenkamp ◽  
Jenny D. Swanson ◽  
Amy M. Brausch
Keyword(s):  
College Women ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Objectification Theory ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Women's Bodies ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
Self Objectification

Objectification theory proposes that the objectification of women's bodies causes women to self-objectify, adopting an outsider's view of themselves. Engaging in a high amount of self-objectification is thought to place women at increased risk for mental health problems such as body dissatisfaction and depression. It was hypothesized that self-objectification would contribute to negative body regard and depression, which would increase participation in risk-taking and self-harmful behaviors. Structural equation modeling was used to test a model of risk for self-harm based upon objectification theory in a sample of 391 college women. Results indicate that the model provided a good fit to the data, but only the paths from self-objectification to negative body regard, negative body regard to depression, and depression to self-harm were significant. Implications of these findings for objectification theory and our understanding of self-harm in women are discussed.

The Cognitive Tax of Self-Objectification

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Stevens Aubrey ◽  
Ashton Gerding
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Objectification Theory ◽  
Music Videos ◽  
Sexual Objectification ◽  
Television Commercials ◽  
Factual Information ◽  
Subsequent Performance ◽  
Psychology Of Women ◽  
Self Objectification

Objectification theory ( Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997 , Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21, 173–206) posits that a consequence of living in a sexually objectifying culture is self-objectification, a cognitively taxing preoccupation with one’s appearance. The present study investigated the effects of exposure to sexual objectification of female artists in music videos, on female emerging adults’ self-objectification and their ability to cognitively process subsequent television commercials. Results indicated that exposure to music videos high in sexual objectification induced self-objectification and hindered participants’ subsequent performance in encoding visual information from commercials, but did not diminish participants’ ability to allocate resources to, or to recall factual information from, the commercials.

scholarly journals Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Interpersonal Sexual Objectification Scale

2007 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly B. Kozee ◽  
Tracy L. Tylka ◽  
Casey L. Augustus-Horvath ◽  
Angela Denchik
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Construct Validity ◽  
Psychometric Evaluation ◽  
Body Shame ◽  
Incremental Validity ◽  
Sexual Objectification ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Self Objectification ◽  
The Relationship

This study reports on the development and psychometric evaluation of the Interpersonal Sexual Objectification Scale (ISOS). Data from 576 college women were collected in three studies. Exploratory factor analysis uncovered two factors: Body Evaluation and Unwanted Explicit Sexual Advances; confirmatory factor analysis supported this factor structure. ISOS scores were internally consistent and stable over a 3-week period. Supporting its construct validity, ISOS scores were (a) strongly related to sexist degradation; (b) slightly to moderately related to other sexist events, self-objectification (i.e., body surveillance and internalization of the thin-ideal), and body shame; and (c) unrelated to socially desirable responding. The relationship between ISOS scores and body shame was fully mediated by self-objectification, providing additional evidence for its construct validity. Furthermore, the ISOS garnered incremental validity, as it predicted self-objectification above and beyond the variance accounted for by sexist events.

Leadership and corporate responsibility: a review of the empirical evidence

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daina Mazutis ◽  
Christopher Zintel
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Corporate Responsibility ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Integrative Model ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quantitative Studies ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consolidate the state of the empirical research to date on the relationship between leadership and corporate responsibility. Design/methodology/approach – The authors conduct a comprehensive, systematic and narrative review of all published quantitative studies that have examined the link between leadership and corporate responsibility broadly defined, and the authors put forward an integrative model encapsulating current knowledge in this domain. Findings – The authors not only identify validated direct, indirect and moderating effects of leadership on corporate responsibility but also point to gaps in the literature that imply important directions for further research. Originality/value – The authors aim to make the following contributions to both the leadership and the corporate responsibility literatures. First, the systematic and narrative review in and of itself provides an important consolidation of existing knowledge in both domains. Second, the authors confirm that the preponderance of empirical evidence supports that leadership matters to corporate responsibility efforts in organizations. Lastly, the review provides a comprehensive model of the relationship between leadership and corporate responsibility that has important implications for future research and theory building in this field.

Objectification Theory and Psychology of Women: A Decade of Advances and Future Directions

2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 377-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonnie Moradi ◽  
Yu-Ping Huang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Objectification Theory ◽  
Sexual Objectification ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Integrative Framework ◽  
The Past ◽  
Psychology Of Women ◽  
Theory Research ◽  
Self Objectification

Fredrickson and Roberts (1997) proposed objectification theory as an integrative framework for understanding how women's socialization and experiences of sexual objectification are translated into mental health problems. This article reviews the past decade of research grounded in objectification theory and highlights needed directions for future scholarship in this area. Specifically, this article reviews research organized according to the following themes: (a) self-objectification and its proposed consequences, (b) sexual objectification experiences as a proposed precursor, and (c) disconnections from bodily functions. An overview of emerging objectification theory research with men is also provided. The review concludes with needed directions for future theoretical and research efforts aimed to advance the psychology of women.

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