Sexy photos make men perceive women as objects - literally
Tue, Feb 17, 2009
Post filled in: Discoveries, Research, Studies
I am sure there are plenty of women there feeling frustrated because of the fact that many times they received no attention from their male companions…at least not concerning what they were saying. So it’s quite easy to become judgmental when it comes to such delicate issues. But whose fault could it be ? Is it the men who simply cannot appreciate women to their real value, is it “Playboy” or other similar publications who create a wrong image of them or is there a darker secret?
The answer rests however in the way men’s brain works. Seeing pictures of almost naked women “lights up” those areas of the brain that are usually active while waiting to use tools such as spanners and screwdrivers (yes, you heard that right, screwdrivers!). And this is far from over; the part of the brain which is responsible for emotions, empathy and wishes practically shut down. So, no more magazines from now on?
Susan Fiske, a psychologist at Princeton University in New Jersey used scans in order to see just how much sexy photos can affect the way one perceives women. She claims that this”objectification” can extend to the workplace too, thus making it possible to for some problems to appear, as female workmates can hardly be perceived differently. So maybe pinning up this kind of images at the workplace might not be the best idea after all!
Of course, nobody’s talking about censoring this kind of photographs; however, people should be aware about the rather unwanted effects they can produce.
During the study, several straight men were subjected to an MRI brain scan while they were shown images of fully dressed women and men which were mixed with others, in which the people were wearing much less. The best-remembered photos were the ones of women who were only dressed in a bikini, but whose head had been digitally removed.
The images of women’s bodies activated the premotor cortex of the brain, which is in charge of taking action and which is usually active before using power tools.
In the last part of the test the men were assessed to see how sexist they were. The ones who proved to be more sexist had very little activity in the areas of the brain responsible for understanding someone else’s feelings and emotions. It is somehow as if they would not perceive the women in the photos as human.
Source: Princeton University
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Mara is a student preparing to take the plunge and go to college. She's always been interested in anything new and intriguing as long as it made her think. She considers herself far from being a scientist but rather a seeker on his way to new and exciting answers and she's trying to make the internet educate people and show them the interesting part of science.
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May 21st, 2009 at 8:44 am
“The images of women’s bodies activated the premotor cortex of the brain, which is in charge of taking action and which is usually active before using power tools.”
…maybe because they were preparing to use their “power tool” :))
June 11th, 2009 at 4:55 am
This is very interesting, but one has to be careful interpreting these kinds of findings. As a male who, okay I’ll be the one in a few billion that admits it, likes looking at sexy pictures of women… I’m not at all surprised by this.
What I’d like to know is whether or not the same phenomenon occurs when actually looking at the sexy woman in person. I’ll bet it does. And then what happens when talking to the woman while having a normal conversation.
In the men who are less sexist, I’d imagine the centers that light up in moments of empathy will go ahead and light up anyway. But that if the conversation or activity turns back toward something sexual, that “power tool” center will light up again too.
As for whether or not sexist men have “empathy centers” in their brain, that too is interesting. But it sounds like quite a leap to connect that fact with the one about the part of the brain that objectifies women while thinking about sex.
Look, it’s fine to demand respect for the genders. It’s fine to say that physical beauty should not be the only or even primary measure of a person’s worth. And empathy? I’m all for it.
But the bottom line is that men find women attractive. That’s the way it’s supposed to be in nature. Men also find certain physical aspects of the female form more attractive than others. And when those aspects are emphasized or fall in line with a certain pattern in nature, we’re going to find them more attractive.
It’s a trick of reason to think this is something we can or should “get over.” I don’t want women to feel inadequate for having a small bust, but I don’t decide or not decide that seeing female breasts appeals to me. I don’t want anyone to have an eating disorder either. But countless anthropology and sociology studies have shown that cultures around the world and across the ages have favored a certain waist-to-hip ratio in women and a certain V-shape in the male torso.
By the way, here’s another interesting twist on this kind of experiment: What part of the female brain lights up when she sees cues in an image that a guy does or doesn’t have a good income? Women don’t place as much emphasis on looks (though they do place some), but whether one is comfortable with the truth or not, signs that a male has provider potential do register with women — even in a physical way — that has nothing to do with whether they decide to feel that way.
Is that so wrong?
Do I feel great empathy when I speak to a woman, especially one that opens and tells me what she’s thinking and whose ideas and feelings I can identify with? Of course I do. Do I respect intelligent women and want them to have a voice? Of course I do. Do I think women can achieve great heights as doctors, lawyers, scientists, professors, authors, and more? Absolutely. And I’m glad to live in an age that’s giving them a chance to do so, albeit still imperfectly and with undue hesitation at times.
Nor am I some slobbering, knuckle-dragging fool (with apologies to the slobbering, knuckle-draggers who relish that designation). As humbly said as one with my apparent chromosomal bias toward inflated self-importance can express, I’m actually a pretty smart and — I like to think — refined and modern guy.
But when I see the curve of a woman’s naked hip, when I see a smooth shoulder, the shadow of a breast, the line of a nude back, the bend of a long and naked leg, and more… something else kicks in, as well it should and as it’s supposed to… that does indeed send a strong message that, yep, I’d sure like to go skin to skin, to smell and taster her, and to feel her under my fingertips.
If that’s objectification, then sue me. ‘Cause I’m guilty as charged (with apologies for being so expressive, but it drives me crazy to keep hearing how there’s something “wrong” with thinking this way… when “thinking” really has nothing to do with it. I’m surprised that, of all places, Princeton hasn’t figured that out yet).
July 3rd, 2009 at 6:49 am
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