A study published in Psychology Today suggests that sexualized behavior can lead to factionalism, subgroup rivalry, and covert competition among individuals within a larger group. When people feel threatened by others' sexualized behavior, they may resort to negative attitudes towards them and even seek ways to undermine their status. This can create tension between different groups and lead to division within a society.
A man may be attracted to multiple women in his office but keep it hidden from his coworkers for fear of being labeled as promiscuous. He might also avoid socializing with other male colleagues who are similarly attractive to women. This can cause him to build a sense of exclusivity around himself and distance himself from those he perceives as threats.
This can create a feeling of superiority and a desire to compete against anyone seen as inferior.
Research shows that sexualized behavior can cause envy and jealousy among members of one's own group. If someone feels like another member is getting more attention or praise than they deserve, they may feel resentful and try to sabotage their success. They might spread rumors about their competitors or attempt to undermine their reputation in subtle ways. This can create an atmosphere of distrust and hostility within the group.
Sexualized behavior can lead to covert competition between two subgroups within a larger group.
If two women work together on a project, they may vie for the attention of the boss or other men in the company. To gain favor, they may engage in flirtatious behavior or dress provocatively. This can lead to resentment and conflict, which can escalate into open competition and potentially damage the productivity of both individuals and the team.
Sexualized behavior can contribute to factionalism, subgroup rivalry, and covert competition by creating a culture of fear, envy, and mistrust. It is important for people to be aware of these potential effects and take steps to mitigate them through communication and collaboration.
How might sexualized behavior contribute to factionalism, subgroup rivalry, or covert competition?
The literature on social psychology provides empirical evidence that suggests that engaging in sexually objectifying behaviors may lead to intergroup conflict. Specifically, individuals who frequently engage in sexual objectification of other groups tend to exhibit greater prejudice towards those groups compared to individuals who do not (Davis et al. , 2017).