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

Abstract

Objectification theorists posit that exposure to sexually objectifying behavior, images, etc., leads women in particular to adopt an objectifying self-perspective. State self-objectification (SSO) (i.e., the internalization of the objectifying gaze) is theorized to usurp individuals' cognitive resources by diverting attention to their bodies. The objective of this paper is to systematically review the literature surrounding self-objectification and cognitive performance. Six databases retrieved 1,779 relevant articles. Studies were deemed eligible for inclusion if they (a) quantitatively investigated the relationship between SSO and cognitive performance using valid and reliable measures, (b) were published in a peer-reviewed journal between 1997 and 2019, inclusive, and (c) were available in English. Nine studies fulfilled all inclusion criteria. As the heterogeneity of the literature precluded meta-analysis, narrative synthesis was employed to review the results. While the quality of the studies was mixed, the results of our review support the contention that self-objectification impairs cognitive functioning. Appearance monitoring, actual-ideal self-discrepancies, negative self-conscious emotions, gender schema activation, and stereotype activation are evaluated as potential mechanisms behind the relationship between state self-objectification and cognitive performance, while chronic (trait) self-objectification is evaluated as a potential moderator.

Exhausting repetitive piano tasks lead to local forearm manifestation of muscle fatigue and negatively affect musical parameters

“…Higher contribution on finger flexors muscles located at the hand rather than at the forearm might in part explain the greater signs of MMF in extensor muscles during the Digital task. During Chord sequences, multi-joint upper-limb movements used to perform loud chords are similar to those of isolated loud tones, where fingertip downward velocity is produced first by elbow extension and then wrist flexion 60 . During a Chord piano task, wrist flexors have an agonist role in the depression of keys, while wrist extensors act as continuous stabilizers of this joint 7 .…”

COVID-19-Related Stress and Anxiety, Body Mass Index, Eating Disorder Symptomatology, and Body Image in Women from Poland: A Cluster Analysis Approach

“…It is possible that, especially among women with excess body weight, the triggers and changes related to COVID-19, already mentioned in the Introduction (e.g., increasing feeling of loss control over the current situation, reduced use of gyms, increased screen time, and exposure to thin ideals via social media), may intensify the experience of negative emotions and concerns about weight or shape changes [ 2 , 10 , 29 , 39 ]. Moreover, although we have not assessed causal relationships, it may be assumed that increased stress, anxiety, and concerns are a source of body dissatisfaction, which is accompanied by constant vigilance and monitoring of weight or body shape [ 10 , 12 , 40 , 41 ]. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many changes in daily lives, and these changes have also been associated with less physical activity and more unhealthy eating behaviors [ 26 , 42 , 43 , 44 ].…”

The effects of activating a “baby brain” stereotype on pregnant women’s cognitive functioning

“…For example, future work should manipulate important factors, such as participant’s motivation to disprove the stereotype, the threatening nature of the stereotype, and the real‐world relevance of the testing condition. There may also be scope to experimentally test other explanations for “baby brain” effects, such as the role that objectification plays on cognitive functioning (Winn & Cornelius, 2020) or the qualitative experiences of being subject to a baby brain stereotype. Taken together, this research advances understanding of social mechanisms that underpin seemingly biological effects of cognitive decline in pregnancy and provides another replication attempt of stereotype threat theory as a theoretical framework.…”