When Saying Sorry May Not Help: The Impact of Apologies on Social Rejections

Hurting all the way: The emotional antecedent and consequence of social rejection

Social rejection is cold and hurtful, but how and why it is formed remains under-investigated. Our study offers one possible explanation from the rejector's perspective by developing a moderated mediation model on the emotional antecedent and consequence of social rejection. Specifically, envious individuals use social rejection to complement their inferiority, further triggering their negative affect. Drawing on social comparison theory, we conducted an experience sampling methodology (ESM) investigation of 55 frontline workers through a 10-workday-survey (Level 1 n = 515). As predicted, daily envy is positively associated with daily social rejection. Daily social rejection is positively related to daily negative affect. Furthermore, daily social rejection mediates the relationship between daily envy and daily negative affect. These effects are more robust for females than males, including the impact of envy on social rejection and the impact of envy on negative affect via social rejection. We suggest the recipient and the rejector make psychological and behavioral adjustments accordingly. We also recommend that future research extend our current study methodologically and theoretically.

Psychometric Properties and Development of a Scale Designed to Evaluate the Potential of Predatory Violent Behavior

The objective of this study was to develop and determine the psychometric properties of an instrument designed to detect traits and behavior that are associated with predatory violent behavior, which is defined as a determined, planned, controlled, and proactive aggression. The sample was comprised of 564 students, mostly in their last year of high school, or in their first year of college. The initial instrument had 78 items, ultimately resulting in 13 with good internal consistency (α = 0.825). Factor analysis showed four factors: anger-in, appeal for weapons, suicidal ideation, and the tendency to take justice into one’s own hands. Said factors showed significant correlations of convergent validity. Data shown here allows inferring that the instrument is a novel and concise tool that evaluates and detects the potential of predatory violent behavior.

Engaging in social rejection may be riskier for women

People often worry how others will perceive them if they socially reject others, but do women have more to fear than men? Although previous research has shown that women are perceived negatively for behaving in counter-stereotypical ways, research on backlash has focused on business settings. The present research applies backlash theory to examine how women are perceived for engaging in social rejection. The findings suggest that backlash may operate differently in social rejection because only men punish women for rejecting. Across four studies, the present research found that (1) women felt they were more likely to be penalized for engaging in social rejection than men, (2) women were less willing to endorse social rejection than men, and (3) men, but not women, viewed female rejectors in a more negative manner than male rejectors.

Pedir Desculpas: Categorias e Efeitos em Três Tipos de Relacionamento Interpessoal

Resumo Embora pedidos de desculpas sejam tratados como mecanismos de gerenciamento de impressão em psicologia, ainda se conhece pouco sobre a dinâmica de oferecê-las (e não somente de recebê-las) em diferentes tipos de relacionamento interpessoal. Cenários experimentais para pedir desculpas em três condições independentes (interagindo com um parente íntimo, amigo íntimo ou par romântico) foram respondidos por 239 participantes, seguidos por medidas de plausibilidade, responsabilidade e emoção, além da escala de Intimidade Social de Miller. Quatro categorias principais foram identificadas e testadas em suas associações com os relacionamentos. Desculpas a parentes revelaram-se de causalidade externa ou interna, a pares românticos revelaram-se internas ou de reparação, enquanto a amigos revelaram-se de desengajamento moral ou externas. Não foram encontradas diferenças nos julgamentos de responsabilidade, plausibilidade e emoção. Discute-se tanto o papel das desculpas para a prevenção de conflitos interpessoais quanto o impacto de variáveis situacionais e disposicionais nos processos de justificação social.