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Workplace objectification: A review, synthesis, and research agenda

Bibi Zhang Orcid Logo, Barbara Wisse, Robert G. Lord

Human Resource Management Review, Volume: 35, Issue: 4, Start page: 101104

Swansea University Author: Bibi Zhang Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.hrmr.2025.101104

Abstract

Objectification – treating human beings as instrumental tools deprived of agency and experience – is inherent in many organizational practices, as employers hope that it may further their interest in profit-making. However, workplace objectification undermines target employees' interests and we...

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Published in: Human Resource Management Review
ISSN: 1053-4822
Published: Elsevier BV 2025
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70028
first_indexed 2025-07-24T11:42:16Z
last_indexed 2025-07-26T01:59:31Z
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spelling 2025-07-24T12:44:07.0073325 v2 70028 2025-07-24 Workplace objectification: A review, synthesis, and research agenda 75093b56ba50da0f779b01e67847b821 0000-0001-5715-4500 Bibi Zhang Bibi Zhang true false 2025-07-24 CBAE Objectification – treating human beings as instrumental tools deprived of agency and experience – is inherent in many organizational practices, as employers hope that it may further their interest in profit-making. However, workplace objectification undermines target employees' interests and well-being. This systematic review seeks to address this conflict by discussing relevant theories and empirical studies on workplace objectification. Based on an analysis of 78 studies, this review summarizes and integrates what is known about antecedents and consequences of workplace objectification from three different perspectives: Objectifying others, self-objectification, and experiencing objectification. This review shows that people objectify others to achieve performance and extrinsic goals or to reduce subjectivity uncertainty, while thwarting the objectified targets' fundamental control, belonging, and self-esteem needs. We provide a comprehensive framework that integrates the extant literature on workplace objectification and offer theoretical and methodological recommendations. We conclude by discussing how juxtaposing conflicting elements in workplace objectification can help create a more virtuous cycle. Journal Article Human Resource Management Review 35 4 101104 Elsevier BV 1053-4822 Extrinsic goals; Objectification; Performance; Psychological needs; Well-being 1 12 2025 2025-12-01 10.1016/j.hrmr.2025.101104 COLLEGE NANME Management School COLLEGE CODE CBAE Swansea University SU Library paid the OA fee (TA Institutional Deal) Swansea University 2025-07-24T12:44:07.0073325 2025-07-24T12:40:11.8796104 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences School of Management - Business Management Bibi Zhang 0000-0001-5715-4500 1 Barbara Wisse 2 Robert G. Lord 3 70028__34833__ca9be5b4ce1d47438eb9bca4fc03eb09.pdf 70028.VoR.pdf 2025-07-24T12:42:42.1757041 Output 1530360 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2025 The Authors. This is an open access article under the CC BY license. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Workplace objectification: A review, synthesis, and research agenda
spellingShingle Workplace objectification: A review, synthesis, and research agenda
Bibi Zhang
title_short Workplace objectification: A review, synthesis, and research agenda
title_full Workplace objectification: A review, synthesis, and research agenda
title_fullStr Workplace objectification: A review, synthesis, and research agenda
title_full_unstemmed Workplace objectification: A review, synthesis, and research agenda
title_sort Workplace objectification: A review, synthesis, and research agenda
author_id_str_mv 75093b56ba50da0f779b01e67847b821
author_id_fullname_str_mv 75093b56ba50da0f779b01e67847b821_***_Bibi Zhang
author Bibi Zhang
author2 Bibi Zhang
Barbara Wisse
Robert G. Lord
format Journal article
container_title Human Resource Management Review
container_volume 35
container_issue 4
container_start_page 101104
publishDate 2025
institution Swansea University
issn 1053-4822
doi_str_mv 10.1016/j.hrmr.2025.101104
publisher Elsevier BV
college_str Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
department_str School of Management - Business Management{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Management - Business Management
document_store_str 1
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description Objectification – treating human beings as instrumental tools deprived of agency and experience – is inherent in many organizational practices, as employers hope that it may further their interest in profit-making. However, workplace objectification undermines target employees' interests and well-being. This systematic review seeks to address this conflict by discussing relevant theories and empirical studies on workplace objectification. Based on an analysis of 78 studies, this review summarizes and integrates what is known about antecedents and consequences of workplace objectification from three different perspectives: Objectifying others, self-objectification, and experiencing objectification. This review shows that people objectify others to achieve performance and extrinsic goals or to reduce subjectivity uncertainty, while thwarting the objectified targets' fundamental control, belonging, and self-esteem needs. We provide a comprehensive framework that integrates the extant literature on workplace objectification and offer theoretical and methodological recommendations. We conclude by discussing how juxtaposing conflicting elements in workplace objectification can help create a more virtuous cycle.
published_date 2025-12-01T05:30:16Z
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score 11.096027

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