Rolf Degen@DegenRolf
Men's tendency to view women as sex objects is plain and simple fueled by sexual arousal and "is not merely the domain of a pathological few."
Sexual objectification refers to the process whereby an individual is reduced to their sexual function, neglecting mental characteristics. Yet little is known about the proximal mechanisms that lead men to objectify women. In the present research, we introduced and found support for the Arousal Hypothesis of Sexual Objectification, which posits that, beyond dispositional traits (e.g. personality), temporary states of sexual arousal increase the sexual objectification of women.
Across four experiments (N = 675), we found consistent evidence that heightened sexual arousal increases sexual objectification in men. In Experiment 1, sexually aroused men showed a greater preference for women’s sexual physical attributes (e.g. curvy, sexy) over psychological attributes (e.g. empathy, intelligence),
Across all studies, neither personality traits (Dark Triad, Social Dominance Orientation, Sociosexual Orientation) nor relationship status moderated the arousal-objectification link.. Taken together, these findings indicate that sexual arousal contributes uniquely to state sexual objectification, above and beyond individual differences. The present findings suggest that a state-level, arousal-driven process can produce sexual objectification independent of power motives,
Sexual objectification is often viewed through the lens of power and personality. However, the present research demonstrates that temporary states, particularly sexual arousal, can independently increase the objectification of women, even among men low in antisocial traits (e.g., Dark Triad traits) or high in empathy. This finding suggests that objectification is not merely the domain of a pathological few, but a broader tendency that emerges in response to mating-relevant cues.
