Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 29, 2026
04:38
Assessment of Sexual Behavior of Male Mice
Published on: March 5, 2020
21.9K
The Relationship Between Social Power and Sexual Objectification: Behavioral and ERP Data
Lijuan Xiao1,2, Baolin Li3, Lijun Zheng2
1Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
Frontiers in Psychology
|February 12, 2019
Summary
Social power increases sexual objectification of women in Chinese culture. This study found that power enhances objectification of sexualized female bodies, confirmed by behavioral and neural evidence.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Cultural Psychology
Background:
- Sexual objectification is prevalent in Western societies, particularly towards women.
- Social power in Western cultures is linked to objectification, potentially due to approach tendencies.
- Neural underpinnings and cross-cultural generalizability of power-related objectification remain underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if social power's effect on sexual objectification extends to Chinese cultural contexts.
- To explore the neural correlates of power-induced sexual objectification using event-related potentials (ERPs).
- To examine how power influences the objectification of both male and female sexualized bodies.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted with Chinese participants.
- Study 1 used behavioral measures to assess the impact of social power on sexual objectification.
- Study 2 employed event-related potentials (ERPs), specifically the N170 component, to examine neural responses to sexualized bodies under different power conditions.
Main Results:
- Social power significantly increased sexual objectification towards sexualized female bodies, but not male bodies, in Chinese participants.
- In high-power individuals, the N170 amplitude inversion effect (indicating less objectification) was observed for male bodies but absent for female bodies.
- Low-power individuals did not show the N170 amplitude inversion effect for either male or female sexualized bodies.
Conclusions:
- The findings confirm that social power enhances sexual objectification of women in Chinese cultural contexts, mirroring effects found in Western societies.
- Neural data, specifically the N170 component, suggests that power diminishes the processing of women as individuals, leading to increased sexual objectification.
- This research provides crucial behavioral and neural evidence for the cross-cultural influence of social power on sexual objectification.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Social Relationships and Well-Being
308
The significance of social relationships in psychological well-being is a well-established area of inquiry within social psychology. Research consistently demonstrates that the presence of meaningful, supportive relationships enhances emotional health, while the absence or deterioration of such connections can contribute to psychological distress. Relationships serve as a foundation for emotional support, identity, and social belonging, all of which are critical to an individual’s overall...
308
02:06Social Exchange Theory
40.8K
We have discussed why we form relationships, what attracts us to others, and different types of love. But what determines whether we are satisfied with and stay in a relationship? One theory that provides an explanation is social exchange theory. According to social exchange theory, we act as naïve economists in keeping a tally of the ratio of costs and benefits of forming and maintaining a relationship with others (Rusbult & Van Lange, 2003).
40.8K
02:10Social Scripts
10.3K
People tend to know what behavior is expected of them in specific, familiar settings. A script is a person’s knowledge about the sequence of events expected in a specific setting (Schank & Abelson, 1977). Essentially, scripts are a particular kind of schema, one containing default values for the features within an event. In the restaurant example, the script's features include the props (e.g., tables, menu, food, and money), the roles to be played (e.g., customer and waiter),...
10.3K
01:29Social Psychology and Individual Behavior
309
Social psychology examines how group dynamics, emotions, and cultural influences shape individual actions and decision-making. These elements interact to form behavioral patterns that affect personal choices and social interactions.The Role of Group DynamicsGroups play a crucial role in shaping behavior by reinforcing norms and expectations. Individuals derive a sense of self from group membership, often aligning their behaviors with group norms to maintain social cohesion. For example, an...
309
01:15Causes of Social Behavior II: Cognitive Processes
202
Cognitive processes affect social behavior by guiding how individuals perceive, interpret, and respond to social stimuli. These mental processes enable individuals to assess others' behaviors, attribute causes to their actions, and form expectations based on past experiences.Causes of Behavior and Social JudgmentsIndividuals determine the causes of others' behaviors by distinguishing between personal traits and external circumstances. For example, if a friend frequently arrives late, an...
202
00:52Social Proof
32.4K
Social proof is a form of persuasion based on comparison and conformity. People compare their behavior and actions to what others are doing and will change to conform to do what their peers do.
32.4K