affiliation, acceptance, and rejection Flashcards
define affiliation
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
why we affiliate – multidimensional model of affiliation (Hill, 1987)
4 reasons why we affiliate:
* positive stimulation
* emotional support - obtain relief
* social comparison - reduce uncertainty
* receive attention
why we affiliate – evolutionary perspective
enhanced chance of survival
survival of children
hard to get food etc on your own
differences in desire to affiliate - intrapersonal
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)
differences in desire to affiliate - interpersonal
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
acceptance and rejection
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
what is relational value
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
promoting relational value (4)
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
relational value: seeking approval and liking/similarity
- 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
relational value: reciprocity
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
relational value: physical appearance
- 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
relational value: achievement and competence
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
forms of explicit and implicit rejection (2 + 4)
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
ostracism lab study examples
- exclusion from discussion
- exclusion from computerised ball tossing game
- chosen last for lab team
4 reactions to rejection
fundamental human needs
hurt feelings
loneliness
state self-esteem
reaction to rejection: 4 fundamental human needs
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
reactions to rejection: hurt feelings (+study)
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
reaction to rejection: loneliness
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
reaction to rejection: loneliness - consequences
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
reaction to rejection: state self-esteem
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
impact of the identity of the rejector (+study)
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
identity of rejector reasoning
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
