7 Aspects of Feeling Objectified and How to Overcome Them
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Introduction
A new study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology explores how feeling and showing gratitude can make people feel less used and objectified.
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“Objectification causes severe consequences, ranging from interpersonal indifference, reduced empathy and helping, aggression and bullying l, to even killing and genocide, therefore, it is important to find interventions to alleviate objectification.”
XIJING WANG
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Researchers opinion
According to Wang, objectification refers to treating others as mere things or tools that can help in one’s goal achievement while denying others’ autonomy, needs, and feelings.
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“Employees can be treated as mere instruments to aid the financial success of their employers, students can be treated by their classmates as note-takers, and women can be perceived and treated solely as an object of sexual desire without regard for their personality or dignity”
XIJING WANG
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Seven Key Features - Part 1
Combining classical definitions of objectification, Wang suggests that objectification is marked by seven key features:
1. Instrumentality : When someone treats a target as a tool for his or her own purpose
2. Fungibility : When someone treats a target as interchangeable with other objects
3. Violability : When someone treats a target as lacking in boundary integrity
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Seven Key Features - Part 2
4. Ownership: When someone treats a target as though the target can be owned
5. Denial of autonomy: When someone treats a target as lacking in autonomy or self-determination
6. Inertness: When someone treats a target as lacking in agency or activity
7. Denial of subjectivity: When someone treats a target as someone whose experiences and feelings need not be taken into account
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Research
Over a series of three studies that included writing gratitude letters and imagining the effects of gratitude in an environment prone to behaviors of objectification, Wang’s research concluded that gratitude, both as a feeling and as a gesture, lowered the levels of objectification in a given environment.
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“The effect of gratitude on weakening objectification can be due to its ability to reduce people's focus on their own needs. That is, when people become less concerned with their own wants and desires, they are less likely to see others as instruments to fulfill those needs and are less likely to fail to consider others’ personhood.”
XIJING WANG
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Three tips
For people who wish to cultivate gratitude in their daily lives, Wang proposes three simple tips:
- Reflection : Spend a few minutes every day thinking about the wonderful things in life (such as a movie, books, a TV show we enjoy, or even being able to bask in the sunshine).
- Exposing ourselves to nature : Spend time in nature by traveling to a place where you can enjoy a magnificent environment.
- Showing Appreciation : Writing a thank you note or verbally appreciating or thanking someone.
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“Expressing gratitude doesn’t need to cost you anything financially. So just do it.”
XIJING WANG
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References
Wang, Xijing (Interview). How gratitude helps us feel whole. Therapytips.org, April 28th, 2022
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IDEAS CURATED BY
CURATOR'S NOTE
New research from Dr Xijing Wang from City University of Hong Kong
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