A Princeton University psychologist reported last week at a scientific conference that men objectify women who wear revealing bathing suits.

One can wonder why something as obvious as this phenomenon — sometimes dubbed “bikini brain” — requires “proof” from empirical studies like the one conducted by Princeton University psychology professor Susan Fiske.

But obvious or not, Fiske’s research does highlight some important points. Along with confirming that men objectify immodestly dressed women, she found this effect is not something men can entirely control.

And, when a man does see an immodestly dressed woman, the objectification appears to extend to interactions they have later with other women who are not dressed in the same way.

According to a CNN article about Fiske’s research, the Princeton psychologist wasn’t willing to draw a broad conclusion that immodest dress is something that should be avoided. But, she suggests, immodest images might not be appropriate in settings like the workplace, where they could cause men to objectify their co-workers.

Said Fiske, “I’m not advocating censorship, but I do think people need to know what settings should discourage the display and possession of these kinds of things.”

CNN’s article doesn’t indicate if Fiske commented about whether the phenomenon of objectification is even greater with pornographic images. But it seems a virtual certainty that “porn brain” is even more conducive to causing men to objectify women than is “bikini brain.”

Given the reality of how porn dehumanizes women, the teaching of the Catechism of Catholic Church regarding pornography seems the only reasonable approach.

States the Catechism , “It does grave injury to the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others. It immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world. It is a grave offense. Civil authorities should prevent the production and distribution of pornographic materials” (no. 2354).