(Still) Modern Times
Objectification at work

So far, most of the research on objectification (i.e., the perception of others as mere objects) has focused on the sexual realm. However, objectification encompasses a broader range of human interactions and domains. In particular, in certain working contexts objectification is a powerful instrument to justify the subordinates’ exploitation and facilitate their use as means to one’s own purposes.
In the present line of research we aimed to provide first empirical evidence of working objectification. In the first set of studies (Andrighetto, Baldissarri, & Volpato, 2016) we showed that making key work features (i.e., repetitiveness, fragmentation, other-direction) salient activates laypeople’s objectified views of the worker. In the second set of studies (Baldissarri, Andrighetto, Gabbiadini, & Volpato, in press), we demonstrated that performing an objectifying activity characterized by these features leads to self-objectification and, in turn, to decreased belief in having personal free will.
The theoretical and practical implications of these findings will be discussed.

Dr Luca Andrighetto
University of Genova
3.00pm to 4.00pm in 01 AC 02

Dr Luca Andrighetto received his PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Padova in 2008 and was then a post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Milano-Bicocca. Currently, he is Associate Professor at the University of Genova. His work centers around issues of social relations and prejudice, with a focus on intergroup and intepersonal attributions of humanity.  Currently, he is also exploring real-life consequences of video-game exposure.