Objects and agents? Social perception of OnlyFans content creators


Journal article


Chiara Pecini, Alessandra Sacino, Bianca Tallone, Roberta Rosa Valtorta, Gian Antonio Di Bernardo, Luca Andrighetto
The Journal of Social Psychology, Advance online publication


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APA   Click to copy
Pecini, C., Sacino, A., Tallone, B., Valtorta, R. R., Bernardo, G. A. D., & Andrighetto, L. Objects and agents? Social perception of OnlyFans content creators. The Journal of Social Psychology, Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2026.2704551


Chicago/Turabian   Click to copy
Pecini, Chiara, Alessandra Sacino, Bianca Tallone, Roberta Rosa Valtorta, Gian Antonio Di Bernardo, and Luca Andrighetto. “Objects and Agents? Social Perception of OnlyFans Content Creators.” The Journal of Social Psychology (n.d.): Advance online publication.


MLA   Click to copy
Pecini, Chiara, et al. “Objects and Agents? Social Perception of OnlyFans Content Creators.” The Journal of Social Psychology, pp. Advance online publication, doi:10.1080/00224545.2026.2704551.


BibTeX   Click to copy

@article{chiara-a,
  title = {Objects and agents? Social perception of OnlyFans content creators},
  journal = {The Journal of Social Psychology},
  pages = {Advance online publication},
  doi = {10.1080/00224545.2026.2704551},
  author = {Pecini, Chiara and Sacino, Alessandra and Tallone, Bianca and Valtorta, Roberta Rosa and Bernardo, Gian Antonio Di and Andrighetto, Luca}
}

Abstract

Prior research suggests that sexually objectified women – that is, women evaluated primarily based on their physical appearance – are often perceived as less than fully human and denied agency, such as the capacity to plan and exert control over their actions. In this research we investigated whether such an assumption holds for female OnlyFans content creators. Across four experimental studies (total = 984), we found that male participants objectified creators more than other female targets (i.e., non-OnlyFans creators and umbrella girls), yet did not deny them agency (Study 1) and even attributed more free will to them than to other targets (Study 2), regardless of sexualized appearance (Studies 2-3). Contrary to our expectations, creators' income (high vs. low) did not affect perceived free will in Study 3, but did influence self-determination in Study 4. Additionally, intrinsic (vs. extrinsic) motivation to join OnlyFans increased perceptions of creators' self-determination (Study 4). Regarding participants' gender, one motivation-related interaction emerged: Women (but not men) attributed greater self-determination to intrinsically (vs. extrinsically) motivated creators. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.