RESEARCH_FILE
Barbara L. Fredrickson
University of Michigan (later University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Known for:Co-authoring objectification theory and the experimental 'swimsuit study' of self-objectification
Key findings
- 1997
With Tomi-Ann Roberts, proposed objectification theory: cultures that treat female bodies as objects to be looked at lead many women to internalize an observer's perspective on themselves, and this habitual self-monitoring increases opportunities for shame and anxiety while dulling awareness of internal bodily states. Objectification Theory: Toward Understanding Women's Lived Experiences and Mental Health Risks ↗
- 1998
In an experiment, women who tried on a swimsuit alone in front of a mirror — versus a sweater — reported more body shame and performed worse on a subsequent math test, evidence that a state of self-objectification consumes attentional resources. That Swimsuit Becomes You: Sex Differences in Self-Objectification, Restrained Eating, and Math Performance ↗