Hostname: page-component-7bb8b95d7b-l4ctd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-09-30T01:18:19.292Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Bringing Objectification into Social Relationships Research: Is Self-Objectification Harmful for Authenticity?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2016

Chiara Rollero
Chiara Rollero*
Affiliation:
University eCampus (Italy)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Chiara Rollero. Faculty of Psychology. University eCampus. Via Isimbardi, 10. 22060. Novedrate (Co) (Italy). E-mail: chiara.rollero@uniecampus.it
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Self-objectification is a pervasive process in contemporary Western societies and psychological literature has largely shown its negative consequences in terms of body shame, appearance anxiety, mental health and performance. Mass media play a key role in promoting such process through the extensive sexualization of individuals’ body and the separation of sexualized body parts from the rest of the body. The purpose of the present study was to extend past research by examining the effects of self-objectification in the context of social relationships among young adults. Participants were 235 undergraduates (55.7% females). A three-step model was successfully tested: results showed that internalization of media standards is related to increased self-objectification (β = .33, SE = .08, p = .01), which in turn is associated with authenticity, being high self-objectifiers less devoted to authentic living (β = –.21, SE = .09, p = .01) and more self-alienated (β = .14, SE = .08, p = .04) and dependent on others’ influence (β = .50, SE = .01, p = .01). The pattern of these relationships did not significantly vary across gender (χ2 = 6.29; p = .18). Implications concerning the impact of self-objectification in the domain of social relationships are discussed.

Keywords

authenticitygendermass mediaself-objectification
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 19 , 2016 , E32
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Arbuckle, J. L., & Wothke, W. (1999). Amos 4.0. Chicago, IL: Smallwaters.Google Scholar
Balaguer, I., Atienza, F. L., & Duda, J. L. (2012). Self-perceptions, self-worth and sport participation in adolescents. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 15, 624–630. http://dx.doi.org/10.5209/rev_SJOP.2012.v15.n2.38873 Google Scholar
Bartky, S. L. (1990). Femininity and domination: Studies in the phenomenology of oppression. New York, NY: Routledge.Google Scholar
Bentler, P. M. (2007). On tests and indices for evaluating structural models. Personality and Individual Differences, 42, 825–829. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2006.09.024 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bollen, K. A., & Long, J. S. (1993). Testing structural equation models. London, UK: Sage.Google Scholar
Borges, A., Gaspar de Matos, M., & Diniz, J. A. (2013). Body image and subjective well-being in Portuguese adolescents. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/sjp.2013.24 Google Scholar
Bully, P., & Elosua, P. (2011). Changes in body dissatisfaction relative to gender and age: The modulating character of BMI. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 14(1), 313–322. http://dx.doi.org/10.5209/rev_SJOP.2011.v14.n1.28 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Byrne, B. B. (2010). Structural equation modeling using AMOS. Basic concepts, applications, and programming. New York, NY: Routledge.Google Scholar
Calogero, R. M. (2009). Objectification processes and disordered eating in British women and men. Journal of Health Psychology, 14, 394–402. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1359105309102192 Google Scholar
Daniel, S., Bridges, S. K., & Martens, M. P. (2014). The development and validation of the Male Assessment of Self-Objectification (MASO). Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 15(1), 78–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0031518 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davis, W. E., Hicks, J. A., Schlegel, R. J., Smith, C. M., & Vess, M. (2015). Authenticity and self-esteem across temporal horizons. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 10, 116–126. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2014.910830 Google Scholar
Fredrickson, B. L., & Roberts, T. A. (1997). Objectification theory: Toward understanding women’s lived experience and mental health risks. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21, 173–206. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6402.1997.tb00108.x Google Scholar
Horney, K. (1950). Neurosis and Human Growth. New York, NY: Norton.Google Scholar
Johnson, P. J., McCreary, D. R., & Mills, J. S. (2007). Effects of exposure to objectified male and female media images on men’s psychological well-being. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 8, 95–102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/1524-9220.8.2.95 Google Scholar
Karazsia, B. T., van Dulmen, M. H. M., Wong, K., & Crowther, J. H. (2013). Thinking meta-theoretically about the role of internalization in the development of body dissatisfaction and body change behaviors. Body Image, 10, 433–441. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2013.06.005 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kernis, M. H., & Goldman, B. M. (2006). A multicomponent conceptualization of authenticity: Theory and research. Advances in experimental social psychology, 38, 283–357. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(06)38006-9 Google Scholar
Kifer, Y., Heller, D., Perunovic, W. Q. E., & Galinsky, A. D. (2013). The good life of the powerful: The experience of power and authenticity enhances subjective well-being. Psychological Science, 24, 280–288. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0956797612450891 Google Scholar
Lakey, C. E., Kernis, M. H., Heppner, W. L., & Lance, C. E. (2008). Individual differences in authenticity and mindfulness as predictors of verbal defensiveness. Journal of Research in Personality, 42(1), 230–238. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2007.05.002 Google Scholar
Maslow, A. H. (1962). Some basic propositions of a growth and self-actualization psychology. In Maslow, A., Toward a psychology of being, (pp. 177–200). Princeton, NJ: D Van Nostrand. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/10793-014 Google Scholar
Maslow, A. H. (1973). The farther reaches of human nature. Harmondworth, UK: Penguin Books.Google Scholar
Meltzer, A. L., & McNulty, J. K. (2014). “Tell me I’m sexy... and otherwise valuable”: Body valuation and relationship satisfaction. Personal Relationships, 21(1), 68–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/pere.12018 Google Scholar
Miner-Rubino, K., Twenge, J. M., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2002). Trait self-objectification in women: Affective and personality correlates. Journal of Research in Personality, 36, 147–172. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jrpe.2001.2343 Google Scholar
Moradi, B., & Huang, Y. P. (2008). Objectification theory and psychology of women: A decade of advances and future directions. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 32, 377–398. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6402.2008.00452.x Google Scholar
Noll, S. M., & Fredrickson, B. L. (1998). A mediational model linking self-objectification, body shame, and disordered eating. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 22, 623–636. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6402.1998.tb00181.x CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robinson, O. C., Lopez, F. G., Ramos, K., & Nartova-Bochaver, S. (2012). Authenticity, social context, and well-being in the United States, England, and Russia: A three country comparative analysis. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 44, 719–737. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0022022112465672 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rogers, C. R. (1961). On becoming a person. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin.Google Scholar
Rollero, C. (2013). Men and women facing objectification: The effects of media models on well-being, self-esteem and ambivalent sexism. Revista de Psicologia Social, 28, 373–382. http://dx.doi.org/10.1174/021347413807719166 Google Scholar
Rollero, C. (2015). “I know you are not real”: Salience of photo retouching reduces the negative effects of media exposure via internalization. Studia Psychologica, 57, 195–202.Google Scholar
Rollero, C., Spotti, F., & De Piccoli, N. (2013). L’oggettivazione attraverso gli spot pubblicitari: l’influenza dei media su umore e autostima. [Objectification in advertisements: The effects on mood and self-esteem]. Psicologia di Comunità, X, 65–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.3280/PSC2013-002008 Google Scholar
Schmid, P. F. (2005). Authenticity and alienation: Towards an understanding of the person beyond the categories of order and disorder. In Joseph, S. & Worsley, R. (Eds.), Person-Centred Psychopathology: A positive psychology of mental health, (pp. 75–90). Ross-on-Wye, UK: PCCS Books.Google Scholar
Sheldon, K. M., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2004). Achieving sustainable new happiness: Prospects, practices, and prescriptions. In Linley, P. A. & Joseph, S. (Eds.), Positive psychology in practice. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9780470939338.ch8 Google Scholar
Sheldon, K. M., Ryan, R. M., Rawsthorne, L. J., & Ilardi, B. (1997). Trait self and true self: Cross-role variation in the Big-Five personality traits and its relations with psychological authenticity and subjective well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 1380–1393. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.73.6.1380 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Theran, S. A. (2010). Authenticity with authority figures and peers: Girls’ friendships, self-esteem, and depressive symptomatology. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 27, 519–534. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0265407510363429 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tiggemann, M., & Kuring, J. K. (2004). The role of body objectification in disordered eating and depressed mood. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 43, 299–311. http://dx.doi.org/10.1348/0144665031752925 Google Scholar
Vandenbosch, L., & Eggermont, S. (2012). Understanding sexual objectification: A comprehensive approach toward media exposure and girls’ internalization of beauty ideals, self-objectification, and body surveillance. Journal of Communication, 62, 869–887. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2012.01667.x CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vandenbosch, L., & Eggermont, S. (2014). The three-step process of self-objectification: Potential implications for adolescents’ body consciousness during sexual activity. Body Image, 11(1), 77–80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2013.10.005 Google Scholar
Weltzin, T. E., Weisensel, N., Franczyk, D., Burnett, K., Klitz, C., & Bean, P. (2005). Eating disorders in men: Update. The Journal of Men’s Health & Gender, 2, 186–193. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jmhg.2005.04.008 Google Scholar
Wickham, R. E. (2013). Perceived authenticity in romantic partners. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 49, 878–887. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2013.04.001 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wood, A. M., Linley, P. A., Maltby, J., Baliousis, M., & Joseph, S. (2008). The authentic personality: A theoretical and empirical conceptualization and the development of the Authenticity Scale. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 55, 385–399. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.55.3.385 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yalom, I. D. (1980). Existential psychotherapy. New York, NY: Basic Books.Google Scholar
Zurbriggen, E. L., Ramsey, L. R., & Jaworski, B. K. (2011). Self-and partner-objectification in romantic relationships: Associations with media consumption and relationship satisfaction. Sex Roles, 64, 449–462. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11199-011-9933-4 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed