The Role of Moral-Outrage, Shame-Based Emotions, Fear and Pride in Predicting Self-Objectification, Personal Safety Concerns, and Loneliness following Sexual Objectification

Research has shown that experiencing sexual objectification may lead to a variety of psychological responses. These responses include people evaluating themselves based on their appearance (self-objectification), having concerns that they may not be safe (personal safety concerns) and loneliness. We developed the current literature by assessing whether the different emotions that are felt following instances of sexual objectification predict the extent to which people engage in self-objectification, have personal safety concerns or feel lonely. Study 1 (N = 144) demonstrated that generally feeling fear following sexual objectification positively predicted personal safety concerns, whilst generally feeling rejection positively predicted loneliness. Studies 2 (N = 139) and 3 (N = 140) assessed the emotions and psychological consequences that stem from a single instance of sexual objectification. Importantly, in line with Study 1, Study 2 found that fear positively predicted personal safety concerns and that rejection positively predicted loneliness. Similarly, in Study 3 a combined rejection and fear construct positively predicted personal safety concerns and loneliness. The self-objectification findings were less consistent between studies. Self-objectification was positively predicted by pride in Study 1, shame in Study 2 and inferiority as well as the combined rejection and fear construct in Study 3. These studies demonstrate the importance of emotions in predicting the different psychological consequences of sexual objectification. Adapting the emotions that are felt may reduce the harmful psychological consequences of sexual objectification.