Social exclusion impairs self-regulation.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Self-regulation is crucial for goal pursuit and well-being.
• Social exclusion is a common human experience with potential negative consequences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of social exclusion and rejection on self-regulation.
• To identify factors that may mitigate the effects of exclusion on self-control.

Main Methods:

• Six experiments were conducted involving social exclusion manipulations.
• Participants' self-regulation was assessed through tasks measuring dietary choices, persistence, and attention.
• Interventions such as financial incentives and self-awareness exercises were employed in later experiments.

Main Results:

• Social exclusion consistently led to decrements in self-regulation across various domains.
• Excluded participants showed reduced ability to resist unhealthy food choices and were less persistent on difficult tasks.
• Attention regulation, measured by dichotic listening, was impaired following exclusion.
• Financial incentives and increased self-awareness effectively eliminated the negative impact of exclusion on self-regulation.

Conclusions:

• Social exclusion significantly undermines individuals' capacity for self-regulation.
• Despite impaired self-control, individuals who experience rejection are capable of self-regulation when motivated.
• Interventions aimed at increasing self-awareness or providing incentives can restore self-regulatory functions in the face of social exclusion.