An Experiencer, An Animal or An Object? Erection Salience Decreases Men's Perceived Agency.

ABSTRACT: Three experiments investigated the influence of penile erection on ascriptions of mental capabilities to men. Drawing on sexual objectification literature and the distinction between agency and experience in mind perception, three competing predictions were formulated. The mind redistribution hypothesis assumed that penile erection would lower agency and heighten experience attributions, the animalistic dehumanization hypothesis predicted the decrease in agency, but not experience, and the literal objectification hypothesis implied the simultaneous decrease in both agency and experience. In Experiment 1 (N = 219; 128 females), erection salience lowered agency, but not experience capabilities ascribed to male targets. Experiment 2 (N = 201, 113 females) replicated the negative effect of ere

SUBMITTER: Gorska P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7641924 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature