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Related Experiment Video

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Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making

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Paying to belong: when does rejection trigger ingratiation?

Rainer Romero-Canyas¹, Geraldine Downey, Kavita S Reddy

¹Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA. rr2033@columbia.edu

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

|July 24, 2010

Summary

Harsh rejection in self-defining situations can lead to ingratiation, especially for those sensitive to rejection. This challenges the idea that exclusion always causes aggression, highlighting specific conditions for prosocial behavior.

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Social Psychology

Background:

Societies often believe exclusion leads to conformity, contrasting with evidence linking rejection to aggression.
Existing literature on ingratiation and conformity offers insights into when rejection might prompt efforts to appease.
Rejection can paradoxically lead to ingratiation under specific circumstances, particularly when self-worth is threatened.

Purpose of the Study:

To test if individuals high in rejection sensitivity ingratiate after harsh rejection in self-defining situations.
To explore gender differences in the response to rejection in situations crucial to self-concept.

Main Methods:

Four studies were conducted to examine the relationship between rejection sensitivity, rejection severity, self-defining situations, and ingratiation.
Participants' rejection sensitivity and responses to rejection were measured.
Specific scenarios were designed to be self-defining for men and women.

Main Results:

High rejection sensitivity predicted ingratiation following harsh rejection in male-centric self-defining situations for men, but not women.
Harsh rejection in female-centric self-defining situations predicted ingratiation for highly rejection-sensitive women, but not men.
Findings indicate that the impact of rejection on ingratiation is moderated by rejection sensitivity and the self-definitional nature of the situation.

Conclusions:

Rejection does not uniformly lead to aggression; it can prompt ingratiation under specific conditions.
Individuals highly sensitive to rejection may engage in ingratiatory behaviors when rejected harshly in situations vital to their self-definition.
The study identifies crucial moderators (rejection sensitivity, situation importance, gender) influencing whether rejection elicits ingratiation or hostility.