Role of Body Gaze, Interpersonal Sexual Objectification and Sensation Seeking in Sexual Self-Concept in Heterosexual Young Adults in Pakistan

Abstract

Past research has shown that body gaze behavior is marked for being a central feature of sexual objectification and that it may be associated with the sexual self-concept and tendency for sensation seeking among both men and women. The purpose of the present study was to assess the role of body gaze, interpersonal sexual objectification and sensation seeking in the sexual self-concept of heterosexual young adults in Pakistan. A cross-sectional research design was used to assess the aforementioned predictive associations with a sample of 455 individuals comprising 250 males and 205 females selected through purposive sampling. Data analysis was done using Pearson product moment correlation, multiple regression using dummy coding and MANOVA. The findings showed that body gaze behavior toward the other gender significantly predicted interpersonal sexual objectification, higher levels of sexual desire and sexual anxiety along with a higher orientation toward sensation seeking. Moreover, men scored high on body gaze behavior, sexual desire, sexual anxiety and sensation seeking. These results resonate with the existing body of research on sexual objectification, sexual self-concept and sensation seeking and how cultural contexts may contribute toward the above associations.