Self-objectification refers to the phenomenon in which individuals perceive themselves primarily as objects to be observed and evaluated by others, rather than as autonomous subjects possessing intrinsic value and agency. Severe self-objectification has been associated with psychological issues such as body shame and dietary anxiety. Sexualized cues, as external stimuli, may trigger or intensify individuals’ levels of self-objectification. Self-efficacy is the belief in one’s own capacity to execute actions, achieve goals, and cope effectively with difficulties. Previous research has shown that self-efficacy can buffer the emotional consequences of self-objectification by reducing appearance-related anxiety and body shame. Hence it serves as a key cognitive–motivational gatekeeper. While much of the existing literature has examined the relationship between self-efficacy and self-objectification, the interaction between sexualized cues and self-efficacy remains underexplored. To address this gap, the present study used a dot-probe paradigm to investigate the moderating effects of self-efficacy on attentional bias toward sexual cues. Photographs of male and female models with different levels of skin exposure were used as stimuli. The results indicated that the degree of skin exposure did not significantly influence attentional bias. However, self-efficacy moderated responses to sexualized cues: female participants with lower self-efficacy demonstrated significant attentional avoidance when viewing male images, regardless of the models’ level of skin exposure. This study contributes to the integration of self-efficacy within the self-objectification framework, offering novel insights into the mechanisms underlying attentional responses to sexualized stimuli. The findings extend the dual-pathway model of sexualized attention and provide empirical support for the development of interventions focused on enhancing self-efficacy.

Huang Selinna. Point Detection Paradigm: The Moderating Role of Self-Efficacy in Attentional Bias Toward Sexualized Cues. International Journal of Frontiers in Sociology (2025), Vol. 7, Issue 7: 8-13. https://doi.org/10.25236/IJFS.2025.070702.

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