Social Cognition, Vol. 32, No. 5, 2014, pp. 484–504 484 © 2014 Guilford Publications, Inc. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Lucas A. Keefer, 444 Fraser Hall, University of Kansas, 1415 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045-7556; E-mail: lkeefer1@ku.edu. KEEFER ET AL. OBJECTIFICAtion in close relationships THE OBJECT OF AFFECTION: SUBJECTIVITY UNCERTAINTY INCREASES OBJECTIFICATION IN CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS Lucas A. Keefer and Mark J. Landau University of Kansas Daniel Sullivan University of Arizona Zachary K. Rothschild Bowdoin College Previous research shows that people objectify strangers when led to feel un- certain about their ability to positively relate to those targets—termed sub- jectivity uncertainty. The current research goes further to examine whether, in the context of close relationships, subjectivity uncertainty causes people to adopt simpliied perceptions of a relationship partner. Participants primed with subjectivity uncertainty about a relationship partner objectiied that person more than participants primed with uncertainty about non-subjec- tive aspects of their relationship (Study 1), subjectivity uncertainty about a different target (Study 2), or negative feelings about the relationship (Study 3). Mediation analyses showed that felt subjectivity uncertainty motivated these simpliied perceptions (Studies 1 and 2) and that they are not the result of disliking the target (Study 3). These indings suggest that a desire to estab- lish close relationships, coupled with uncertainty about one’s ability to do so, may ironically motivate people to objectify close others. Close relationships are for most people a source of support and reassurance neces- sary for long-term well-being (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2007). Yet relationships can be a source of uncertainty when a partner is seen as insensitive, elusive, or otherwise unpredictable. The current research examines whether people compensate for this uncertainty by objectifying relationship partners—that is, by viewing relationship partners in a way that suppresses their emotional complexity (i.e., infrahumaniza-