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Rejection sensitivity and the rejection-hostility link in romantic relationships
Rainer Romero-Canyas1, Geraldine Downey, Kathy Berenson
1Columbia University.
Journal of Personality
|May 4, 2010
Summary
Rejection sensitivity causes anxious expectations and intense reactions to social exclusion. This can lead to hostility and aggression, perpetuating a cycle of rejection, but can be interrupted by self-regulation and positive relationships.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Rejection sensitivity (RS) is a disposition to anxiously expect, perceive, and react intensely to rejection.
- Individuals high in RS exhibit increased hostility and reactive aggression following perceived social exclusion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize research linking anxious expectations of rejection to hostility after rejection.
- To explore RS as a defensive motivational system influencing social information processing.
- To review evidence on the cycle of rejection and its interruption.
Main Methods:
- Review of experimental and diary studies.
- Examination of attentional and perceptual processes related to social information.
- Analysis of factors interrupting the rejection sensitivity cycle.
Main Results:
- Perceived rejection triggers hostility and aggressive behavior in rejection-sensitive individuals.
- Hostility and reactive aggression can elicit further rejection, creating a negative cycle.
- Generalized self-regulatory skills and supportive relationships can interrupt this cycle.
Conclusions:
- Rejection sensitivity functions as a defensive motivational system.
- The cycle of rejection sensitivity can be mitigated through improved self-regulation and positive social connections.
- Understanding RS is crucial for addressing interpersonal difficulties and promoting well-being.
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