Check Her Out! Does Viewing Sexy Individuals Affect Perceptions of Self and Partner?

Abstract

Exposure to atypically attractive women, such as those found in soft-porn magazines, can have a negative effect on view of self and partner. This study aimed to extend existing research in two ways. First, we investigated the effects of non-pornographic, yet atypical attractive, media images--such as those found in high-status store catalogues--on men's and women's perceptions of their partners and of themselves. Second, we investigated the potential buffering (or facilitating)effects of sexual strategy on the psychological response to viewing such images.