Keywords
Self-Objectification; Sex is Power; Self-Efficacy; Identity
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the interactions between self-objectifying tendencies in college students, their beliefs in how their sexuality/sexual agency can be used to their advantage, and their self-perception as it relates to identity, self-esteem, and self-efficacy beliefs. College students (N = 274) took an anonymous online self-report survey battery in exchange for course credit. The presence of what is termed “sex is power” beliefs were found to be a significant moderator between the effects of self-objectifying practices and self-perception. Participants with sex-is-power beliefs were able to use self-surveying behaviors without igniting identity distress as one might do in the absence of such beliefs. Using the information found in this study, the goal is to help understand how growing sex-positivity can mitigate the effects of historically detrimental objectification practices.
Thesis Completion Year
2025
Thesis Completion Semester
Spring
Thesis Chair
Berman, Steven
College
College of Sciences
Department
Psychology
Thesis Discipline
Psychology
Language
English
Access Status
Campus Access
Length of Campus Access
5 years
Campus Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
STARS Citation
Briceno, Emily R., "Self-Objectification as a Form of Empowerment and its Relationship to Identity, Self-Perception, and Self-Efficacy" (2025). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 267.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/267
Rights Statement
