Work and freedom? Working self‐objectification and belief in personal free will. (12th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baldissarri, Cristina; Andrighetto, Luca; Gabbiadini, Alessandro; Volpato, Chiara
• Other Names: Vaes Jeroen guestEditor.; Loughnan Steve guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: British journal of social psychology. Volume 56:Part 2(2017:Jun.)
• Page Start: 250
• Page End: 269
• Publication Date: 2016-11-12
• Subjects: work -- self‐objectification -- instrumentality -- mental states -- belief in free will; Social psychology -- Periodicals; 302.05
• DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12172
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-6665

Abstract

Abstract : The current work aimed to extend the burgeoning literature on working objectification by investigating the effects of particular job activities on self‐perception. By integrating relevant theoretical reflections with recent empirical evidence, we expected that performing objectifying (i.e., repetitive, fragmented, and other‐directed) tasks would affect participants' self‐objectification and, in turn, their belief in personal free will. In three studies, we consistently found that performing a manual (Study 1 and Study 2) or a computer (Study 3) objectifying task (vs. a non‐objectifying task and vs. the baseline condition) led participants to objectify themselves in terms of both decreased self‐attribution of human mental states (Study 1 and Study 3) and increased self‐perception of being instrument‐like (Study 2 and Study 3). Crucially, this increased self‐objectification mediated the relationship between performing an objectifying activity and the participants' decreased belief in personal free will. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are considered.