title: Internalizing objectification: Objectified individuals see themselves as less warm, competent, moral, and human.
abstract: People objectify others by viewing them as less warm, competent, moral, and human (Heflick & Goldenberg, 2009, J. Exp. Soc. Psychol., 45, 598; Vaes, Paladino, & Puvia, 2011, Eur. J. Soc. Psychol., 41, 774). In two studies, we examined whether the objectified share this view of themselves, internalizing their objectification. In Study 1 (N = 114), we examined sexual objectification, and in Study 2 (N = 62), we examined workplace objectification. Consistent across both studies, we found that objectification resulted in participants seeing themselves as less warm, competent, moral (Study 2 only), and lacking in human nature and human uniqueness. These effects were robust to perceiver gender and familiarity (Study 1), and whether another person or a situation caused the objectification (Study 2). In short, the objectified see themselves the manner they are seen by their objectifiers: as lacking warmth, competence, morality, and humanity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loughnan
authors.affiliation: University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baldissarri
authors.affiliation: University of Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Spaccatini
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Elder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D032981:Dehumanization; D005260:Female; D040821:Human Characteristics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009014:Morals; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology
keywords: objectification; self-perception; sexual objectification; workplace objectification