affiliation, acceptance, and rejection

Question 1

define affiliation

Answer 1

act of associating and interacting with one or more individuals

doesn’t indicate length, affective tone, or quality of interaction
driven by need to feel sense of involvement and belonging in social group

Question 2

why we affiliate – multidimensional model of affiliation (Hill, 1987)

Answer 2

4 reasons why we affiliate:
* positive stimulation
* emotional support - obtain relief
* social comparison - reduce uncertainty
* receive attention

Question 3

why we affiliate – evolutionary perspective

Answer 3

enhanced chance of survival
survival of children
hard to get food etc on your own

Question 4

differences in desire to affiliate - intrapersonal

Answer 4

individuals desire to be with others can fluctuate over time and contexts

social affiliation model - O’Connor and Rosenblood (1996)
* people seek to maintain optimal level of social contact (this differs between people)
* homeostatic principle - adjust following deviations from optimal level
* e.g. episode of solitude → seek out opportunities for affiliation (and vice versa)

Question 5

differences in desire to affiliate - interpersonal

Answer 5

some people have stronger desire to affiliate than other

biological explanation
* brain imaging has show social interactions provide greater arousal of CNS in introverts than extroverts - becomes overwhelming more quickly
* therefore avoid interactions to stop uncomfortable levels of arousal

cultural explanation
* individualistic country = members desired affiliation more than collectivists
* less opportunity for affiliation in individualistic so desire is higher to seek it out

Question 6

acceptance and rejection

Answer 6

establishing interpersonal relationships needs more than just affiliation

evolved disposition to seek acceptance and avoid rejection (for survival)

acceptance/rejection are continuums - different levels of it

Question 7

what is relational value

Answer 7

degree to which one person regards their relationship with another individual as valuable/important

subjective experiences of acceptance/belonging along continuum of perceived relational value
* high perceived relational value = perception of acceptance
* low perceived relational value = feelings of rejection

perception of acceptance/rejection depends on whether relational value is as high as desired

Question 8

promoting relational value (4)

Answer 8

motivation to maintain high relational value to increase chances of acceptance and therefore access to desired social and material outcomes

promote by:
1. seek approval/liking
2. reciprocity
3. physical appearance
4. achievement and competence

Question 9

relational value: seeking approval and liking/similarity

Answer 9

• want to be seen as possessing socially desirable traits (friendly, sincere, caring, fun etc.)
• avoid being seen as possessing disliked traits (boring, conceited, obnoxious, self-centred)

more likely to like people perceived to be similar to you - based on: physical characteristics, attitudes and beliefs etc.

unconsciously promote our similarity to others - e.g. behaviour mimicking

Question 10

relational value: reciprocity

Answer 10

norm of reciprocity - therefore it is expected

not doing this = view as inconsiderate, hesitant to develop close relationships

reciprocity in liking - like people who like us back

Question 11

relational value: physical appearance

Answer 11

• halo effect - impression formation, more positive judgement on personality, social skills, future prospects
• better liked and sought out as companions, friends, partners
• e.g. facial symmetry, unblemished skin (health), preference for average faces (familiarity), criteria varies across cultures

meta-analysis has found no relationship between physical attractiveness and intelligence, dominance, self-esteem, mental health
* but attractive people were: less socially anxious, more social skills, less lonely
* due to self fulfilling prophecy - as other people treat them as such

Question 12

relational value: achievement and competence

Answer 12

striving for competence and mastery increases chances of acceptance and belonging

competent and successful = higher RV, more likely sought out for groups and relationships

beneficial skills for others, desirable rewards of others achievements (high salary), seen as more interesting, desire to be associated with successful people

Question 13

forms of explicit and implicit rejection (2 + 4)

Answer 13

explicit rejection:
- ostracism (exclude or ignored by individual or group)
- prejudice and discrimination

implicit devaluation and rejection:
- bullying
- criticism - target possess undesirable traits - undermining value
- betrayal - devaluation of relationship
- interpersonal favouritism - favour someone equal or inferior

Question 14

ostracism lab study examples

Answer 14

• exclusion from discussion
• exclusion from computerised ball tossing game
• chosen last for lab team

Question 15

4 reactions to rejection

Answer 15

fundamental human needs
hurt feelings
loneliness
state self-esteem

Question 16

reaction to rejection: 4 fundamental human needs

Answer 16

belonging, control, self-esteem, meaningful existence
model of ostracism says rejection threatens these

study:
15 min discussion on a given topic with 2 confederates
inclusion vs exclusion condition

results:
ostracised = low mood, depletion of: belonging, control, self-esteem and meaningful experience

Question 17

reactions to rejection: hurt feelings (+study)

Answer 17

emotion most closely associated with rejection
perception of low/declining relational value

everyday life → explicit rejection, being ignored, betrayal, teasing
lab → eliciting low relational value resulted in hurt feelings

Snapp and Leary (2001)

method:
told study about who people choose to spend time with
2 participants and 1 confederate
low vs high familiarity conditions
asked to talk about self
conditions: acceptance or rejection

results:
more hurt when rejected
more hurt when rejected by someone you barely know than by someone you are more familiar with

conclusion:
more superficial conversation leading to rejection hurts - not interested, no second chance - feel they dislike you more

Question 18

reaction to rejection: loneliness

Answer 18

link to perception that social network is inadequate - not always caused by rejection

e.g. homesickness

when relationships are less satisfying than desired

smaller social networks and fewer interactions with friends and family → loneliness

quality of social interaction over frequency and length

Question 19

reaction to rejection: loneliness - consequences

Answer 19

self-perpetuating = less perceived acceptance and interpersonal contact = increased loneliness

less accepting of others

less responsive to classmates in discussions

less effective feedback to peers

less accurate at decoding others non-verbal expressions of emotions

Question 20

reaction to rejection: state self-esteem

Answer 20

state = how people evaluate themselves
trait = self-esteem about specific characteristics

studies: (cited on slides)
* lab studies of rejection, disapproval, ostracism, lack of interest
* rejection in everyday life e.g., unrequited love, being bullied
* people who report being unconcerned about others’ opinions about themselves experience changes in self-esteem following devaluing feedback

Zadro et al (2005)

method:
5 min role play of a train ride
conditions = source vs target of ostracism
either ignore or argue with target

results:
target of ostracism = lower self-esteem than argument
unlike targets of arguments, targets of ostracism have no opportunity to actively engage in the conflict

Question 21

impact of the identity of the rejector (+study)

Answer 21

rejection appears to produce negative emotions and reduced self-esteem regardless of identity of rejector

rejection by despised groups:

method:
* participants indicated preference for one of 3 groups: labour party, liberal part, or KKK
* played cyberball game with ingroup, rival outgroup, or despised outgroup (KKK)
* either are included or excluded in the game

results:
* ostracism resulted in depleted need satisfaction regardless of which group it was with
* even exclusion from despised group had negative effects

Question 22

identity of rejector reasoning

Answer 22

sociometer

• psychological system for monitoring environment for cues indicating relational value (acceptance and rejection)
• negative affect and low self-esteem alerts individual
• indiscriminate to identity of rejector initially (evolutionarily didn’t evolve to distinguish between important and unimportant rejections)
• can override this initial response