New research published in Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences provides evidence that women with erect nipples are perceived as less intelligent, less moral, and more promiscuous. The findings indicate that nipple erection triggers sexualization and objectification by those who observe it.
Nipple erection, also known as nipple hardening or nipple engorgement, is an involuntary physical response in which the nipples become firm due to the contraction of small muscles in the area and increased blood flow. It is a normal response that can occur in both males and females in response to various stimuli, such as cold temperatures or stimulation. Understanding how nipple erection influences perceptions of women can help to shed light on the impact of physical cues on sexualization.
“There have been references to nipple erection in pop culture in the past (like Sex and the City) and products like nipple masking tape or even fake nipples,” said study author Rebecca Burch, a full professor at the State University of New York at Oswego.
“All of these have implied that erect nipples attract (either wanted or unwanted) sexual interest. Yet, nipple erection is involuntary and caused by a number of factors. David Widman and I wanted to study how people perceive nipple erection and if it causes them to treat the person differently. We have done a series of studies on the topic – this is number three, but more studies are in progress.”
In the new study, 234 participants viewed 12 photos in randomized order. The photos consisted of 6 women with visibly erect nipples and 6 women without visibly erect nipples. (All the women were fully clothed.) After viewing each photo, the participants were asked to respond to questions such as “How likely is she to cheat on her partner,” “How intelligent is she,” and “How often do you think she engages in one night stands?”
The researchers found that women with visibly erect nipples were perceived as as less intelligent, less moral, and more likely to engage in sexual behaviors (such as fellatio) compared to their concealed counterparts. Male participants perceived all women in the photos as less intelligent, less moral, and of lower sexual health than female participants, while female participants rated women with visibly erect nipples as having lower quality relationships and as more sexually manipulative than men did.
“The major finding is that even though nipple erection can be caused by other factors, men and women perceive nipple erection (in this study, female nipple erection) as a sign of increased sexuality,” Burch told PsyPost. “They then make assumptions about that woman’s behavior and interests, and then make decisions about how they will treat her. In sum, both men and women sexually objectify women with nipple erection, and while men want to be involved with them, women want to avoid them.”
In their previous work, Burch and Widman have found that men perceived women with erect nipples as more deserving of help compared to the same women without erect nipples. This was particularly true when the help involved greater interaction with the woman in question. On the other hand, nipple erection made female participants less willing to include the woman in their social circle.
“In our series of studies, we have found that when men see women with nipple erection, they think she is sexier, they think they are sexier, they think she is more sexual and less intelligent and moral, they want to do things for her, and they want to spend time with her,” Burch explained. “When women see other women with nipple erection, they see the woman as sexier, they have negative feelings about themselves, they think she is more sexual and less intelligent and moral, and they do not want to do things for her or spend time with her.”
But when it comes to the psychology of nipple erection, researchers have only scratched the surface.
“There still many questions to be addressed, like how people view men with nipple erection, or how other cultures view nipple erection,” Burch said. “So far, all of our studies have been conducted in the United States. Other cultures have different experiences with nudity, climate, and sexuality that could shift their perceptions. We are working on these questions now.”
“I think these findings make it clear that people make a lot of very quick judgments and decisions about others; in this case, based on an involuntary reflex that could be caused by several factors. Perhaps people need to be more self-aware regarding the basis of their snap judgments.”
The study was titled: “The Point of Nipple Erection 3: Sexual and Social Expectations of Women With Nipple Erection“.