Feeling like an object: A field study on working self-objectification and belief in personal free will

The present research aims to take a deeper look at the relationship between working self-objectification and belief in personal free will. Previous research found that working self-objectification, due to the perception of being objectified or the execution of objectifying tasks, negatively affects belief in personal free will. However, these findings have been mainly tested through laboratory studies considering undergraduates. In this work we aim to verify whether this pattern also emerges when considering workers. We conducted a field study involving employees in the production lines of different companies. They completed a questionnaire on objectifying job features, perception of being objectified by superiors, self-objectification self-perception as instrument-like and self-attribution of human mental states and belief in personal free will. As expected, objectifying job features and perceptions of being objectified were positively related to self-objectification that, in turn, was associated with decreased beliefs in personal free will.