Self-objectification in women predicts approval motivation in online self-presentation

TY - JOUR

T1 - Self-objectification in women predicts approval motivation in online self-presentation

AU - Chen, Shilei

AU - van Tilburg, Wijnand

AU - Leman, Patrick

N1 - Funding Information: This research was supported in part by the Henry Lester Trust awarded to the first author. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The British Psychological Society

PY - 2022/1

Y1 - 2022/1

N2 - Researchers have examined self-objectification – viewing oneself as an object rather than a subject – in terms of its impact on intrapersonal factors, such as mental health and cognitive performance. However, few have examined how self-objectification relates to interpersonal factors. The present research addressed this gap by testing the impact of self-objectification on social approval motivation among women. Study 1 (n = 103) found that individual differences in self-objectification correlated positively with approval motivation. Study 2 (n = 94) replicated these results and found that women who reported higher self-objectification were more willing to modify their social media profile pictures unrealistically. In Study 3 (n = 100), higher self-objectifying women were more willing to unrealistically modify their profile pictures even if this exceeded normative levels, which was replicated in Study 4 (n = 199). These results suggest that women’s self-objectification is associated with a desire for approval from others and this desire manifests in a willingness to modify self-presentation.

AB - Researchers have examined self-objectification – viewing oneself as an object rather than a subject – in terms of its impact on intrapersonal factors, such as mental health and cognitive performance. However, few have examined how self-objectification relates to interpersonal factors. The present research addressed this gap by testing the impact of self-objectification on social approval motivation among women. Study 1 (n = 103) found that individual differences in self-objectification correlated positively with approval motivation. Study 2 (n = 94) replicated these results and found that women who reported higher self-objectification were more willing to modify their social media profile pictures unrealistically. In Study 3 (n = 100), higher self-objectifying women were more willing to unrealistically modify their profile pictures even if this exceeded normative levels, which was replicated in Study 4 (n = 199). These results suggest that women’s self-objectification is associated with a desire for approval from others and this desire manifests in a willingness to modify self-presentation.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85110952375

U2 - 10.1111/bjso.12485

DO - 10.1111/bjso.12485

M3 - Article

SN - 0144-6665

VL - 61

SP - 366

EP - 388

JO - British Journal of Social Psychology

JF - British Journal of Social Psychology

IS - 1

ER -