We feel more protective over those in skimpy clothing

However, the new findings by Prof Gray and his colleagues expand and change our understanding of how paying attention to someone's body can alter the way both men and women view the opposite sex.u00a0"An important thing about our study is that, unlike much previous research, ours applies to both sexes," he said.u00a0

"It also calls into question the nature of objectification because people without clothes are not seen as mindless objects, but they are instead attributed a different kind of mind.u00a0"We also show that this effect can happen even without the removal of clothes.

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"Simply focusing on someone's attractiveness, in essence concentrating on their body rather than their mind, makes you see her or him as less of an agent - someone who acts and plans - more of an experiencer," he explained.

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When men and women in the study focused on someone's body, perceptions of agency - self-control and action - were reduced, and perceptions of experience - emotion and sensation - were increased.

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Prof Gray and his colleagues suggest that this effect occurs because people unconsciously think of minds and bodies as distinct, or even opposite, with the capacity to act and plan tied to the mind and the ability to experience or feel tied to the body.

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u00a0The study also found that a body focus could actually increase moral standing.u00a0The research was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.