“Don’t Bother Your Pretty Little Head”

Abstract

We examined whether appearance compliments, despite their flattery, undermine cognitive performance. In Study 1, women participants (N ¼ 88 Israeli university students) who wrote about past situations in which they had received appearance compliments (but not competence-related compliments) showed worse math performance than women in a control/no compliment condition-especially if they scored high on trait self-objectification (TSO). In Study 2, men and women participants (n women ¼ 73, n men ¼ 75 Israeli university students) received bogus occupational evaluation feedback, which did or did not include an appearance compliment. Although appearance compliments led to mood improvement among participants with high TSO, they also undermined math performance among both women and men. Because receiving appearance compliments is a common experience for women (whereas men are typically complimented for their competencies), our findings suggest that appearance compliments serve as a mechanism that might subtly perpetuate gender inequality. For the promotion of societal gender equality, it is important that the public is aware that appearance compliments, even if meant well, may create sexist environments.

The Social Interaction Model of Objectification: A process model of goal‐based objectifying exchanges between men and women

“…While these studies lack some ecological validity of actual interaction studies, they afford researchers more experimental control. Similarly, Teng et al (2015, Study 2; see also Kahalon et al, 2018) conducted a clever study that blurred the lines between actual and anticipated interaction studies. They delivered an objectifying comment via an ostensible computer-mediated exchange in which female participants believed they were receiving actual objectifying comments from a male who could see them.…”

“…on women's intentions to affiliate with men, for instance, women reported less liking of the objectifying man (Teng, Chen, Poon, & Zhang, 2015). Objectifying gazes paired with an objectifying comment also undermine women's work performance (Gervais et al, 2011;Kahalon, Shnabel, & Becker, 2018;Wiener et al, 2013). While the consequences of objectifying comments on women have been examined, little to no research has examined when and why men engage in these remarks in the first place.…”

Self-Objectification and Cognitive Performance: A Systematic Review of the Literature

“…After abstract screening, 22 were deemed eligible for full text review. Ten studies were eliminated during full text review because they omitted manipulation checks to verify that SSO was activated (Kiefer et al, 2006;Logel et al, 2009, Studies 2, 3, and 4;Gervais et al, 2016;Pacilli et al, 2016, Studies 1 and 2;Baker et al, 2017, Study 3;Kahalon et al, 2018a, Studies 1 and 2). One study was eliminated because it included an indirect manipulation check to verify that SSO was activated (the Appeal of Sex Questionnaire, Gay and Castano, 2010).…”

Do Self-Objectified Women Believe Themselves to Be Free? Sexual Objectification and Belief in Personal Free Will

“…To sum up our hypotheses, in accordance with previous research on sexual objectification (e.g., Chen et al, 2013; Kahalon et al, 2018), we first assume that being subjected to an objectifying gaze – i.e., male comments focused on physical appearance – may lead women to self-objectify, in terms of self-perception both as an instrument and as lacking human mental states. In turn, these self-perceptions may lead to a decrease in their belief of having personal free will.…”

“…The results showed that comments about physical appearance led women to experience greater sinful feelings and a greater perception of dirtiness. In the same vein, Kahalon et al (2018) found that receiving appearance-related compliments leads to lower cognitive performance.…”