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(Not) mine to show: Boosting self-determination to reduce body concealment
Carmen Cervone1, Maria Laura Bettinsoli2, Caterina Suitner1
1Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Italy.
Body Image
|December 10, 2025
Summary
Women
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Gender Studies
Background:
- Societal sexual objectification can lead women to self-objectify, diminishing their bodily self-determination.
- Appearance management strategies like body concealment and exposure are responses to reduced self-determination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between bodily self-determination, body concealment, and body exposure.
- To examine the mediating role of motivation (intrinsic vs. extrinsic) in self-objectification and appearance management.
Main Methods:
- Two studies (N=200 and N=173) assessed bodily self-determination, motivation for self-presentation, and appearance management behaviors.
- Study 1 examined associations, while Study 2 experimentally manipulated motivation recall.
Main Results:
- Lower self-determination was linked to increased body concealment and decreased body exposure.
- Extrinsic motivation mediated the relationship between self-objectification and these appearance management strategies.
- Recalled extrinsic motivation led to greater concealment and less exposure, mediated by emotions.
Conclusions:
- Self-determination is crucial in understanding self-objectification and its impact on appearance management.
- Body concealment and exposure are significantly predicted by motivation and emotional responses linked to self-objectification.
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