Uncovering the link between attachment and interpersonal objectification: The role of theory of mind and empathy

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dc.abstract.enWhile extensive research has examined the consequences of objectification in specific contexts (e.g., sexual or workplace settings), little is known about how interpersonal personal relationship is related to objectification. Similarly, although attachment theory explains relational patterns, its connection to interpersonal objectification—particularly via socio-cognitive processes like Theory of Mind (ToM) and empathy—remains largely unexplored. This study addresses these gaps by investigating the relationship between attachment insecurity and objectification of others via ToM and empathy. In three well-powered studies conducted in Poland, the UK, and Italy (N = 1222) we found a consistent relationship between attachment avoidance and interpersonal objectification, i.e., the higher the level of attachment avoidance, the higher the tendency to objectify others. Crucially, this relationship was accounted for by levels of ToM (Study 2 & 3) and empathy (Study 3). We discuss the implications of these findings for the literature on attachment styles and objectification, and the importance of integrating these findings into broader models of social and personality psychology.
dc.affiliationInstitute of Psychology
dc.affiliationWydział Psychologii we Wrocławiu
dc.affiliationInstytut Psychologii
dc.contributor.authorEcer, Emrullah
dc.contributor.authorRaguso, Giuseppe
dc.contributor.authorAndrighetto, Luca
dc.contributor.authorGąsiorowska, Agata
dc.date.access2026-02-10
dc.date.accessioned2026-02-11T09:35:54Z
dc.date.available2026-02-11T09:35:54Z
dc.date.created2026-02-02
dc.date.issued2026-02-10
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.grantnumber2021/43/O/HS6/00778
dc.description.granttitleNastawienie rynkowe jako skutek pozabezpiecznego przywiązania. Eksploracja relacji i jej psychologicznych mechanizmów.
dc.description.physical1-12
dc.description.sdgGoodHealthAndWellBeing
dc.description.sdgReducedInequalities
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume264
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106399
dc.identifier.eissn1873-6297
dc.identifier.issn0001-6918
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/2180
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691826002003?via%3Dihub
dc.languagepl
dc.pbn.affiliationpsychologia
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOPEN_JOURNAL
dc.subject.enObjectification
dc.subject.enAttachment avoidance
dc.subject.enTheory of mind
dc.subject.enEmpath
dc.swps.sciencecloudsend
dc.titleUncovering the link between attachment and interpersonal objectification: The role of theory of mind and empathy
dc.title.journalActa Psychologica
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle