title: Effects of objectifying gaze on female cognitive performance: The role of flow experience and internalization of beauty ideals.
abstract: Although previous research has demonstrated that objectification impairs female cognitive performance, no research to date has investigated the mechanisms underlying such decrement. Therefore, we tested the role of flow experience as one mechanism leading to performance decrement under sexual objectification. Gaze gender was manipulated by having male versus female experimenters take body pictures of female participants (N = 107) who then performed a Sustained Attention to Response Task. As predicted, a moderated mediation model showed that under male versus female gaze, higher internalization of beauty ideals was associated with lower flow, which in turn decreased performance. The implications of these results are discussed in relation to objectification theory and strategies to prevent sexually objectifying experiences.
authors: Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Italy.
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Guizzo
authors: Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Italy.
authors: Mara
authors: M
authors: Cadinu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001504:Beauty; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D032981:Dehumanization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012649:Self Concept; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cognitive performance; flow experience; internalization of beauty ideals; self-objectification; sexual objectification