Our brains process images of men and females differently and see men as people and women as body parts, according to a new study.
When casting our eyes upon an object, our brains either perceive it in its entirety or as a collection of its parts. The study suggested that these two distinct cognitive processes also are in play with our basic physical perceptions of men and women — and, importantly, provides clues as to why women are often the targets of sexual objectification.
The research found in a series of experiments that participants processed ima-ges of men and women in very different ways. When presented with images of men, perceivers tended to rely more on “global” cognitive processing, the mental method in which a person is perceived as a whole. Meanwhile, images of women were more often the subject of “local” cognitive processing, or the objectifying perception of something as an assemblage of its parts.
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Stewart says sorry for fling with director
Los Angeles: Public displays of affection gave way to public displays of apology on Wednesday as Twilight star Kristen Stewart and the director of her latest movie candidly admitted they’ve had an illicit affair.
Stewart, 22, the most bankable actress in Hollywood, was first to take the plunge, confessing via People magazine that she had cheated on longtime boyfriend and Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson, 26.
“I’m deeply sorry for the hurt and embarrassment I’ve caused to those close to me and everyone this has affected,” said Stewart, whose new film Snow White and the Huntsman hit US theaters in June.
“This momentary indiscretion has jeopardised the most important thing in my life, the person I love and respect the most, Rob. I love him, I love him, I’m so sorry.” — AFP