Self-objectification in women predicts approval motivation in online self-presentation

Researchers have examined self-objectification—viewing oneself as an object rather than a subject—in terms of its impact on intrapersonal factors, such as mental health and cognitive performance. However, few have examined how self-objectification relates to interpersonal factors despite the importance of these factors for interpersonal outcomes. The present research addressed this gap by testing the impact of self-objectification on social approval motivation among women. Study 1 (N = 103) found that individual differences in self-objectification correlated positively with approval motivation. Study 2 (N = 94) replicated these results and found that women who reported higher self-objectification were more willing to modify their social media profile pictures unrealistically. In Study 3 (N = 100), higher self-objectifying women were more willing to unrealistically modify their profile pictures even if this exceeded normative levels, which was replicated in Study 4 (N = 199). These results suggest that women’s self-objectification is associated with a desire for approval from others and this desire manifests in a willingness to modify self-presentation.