Difficulties with being socially accepted: An experimental study in borderline personality disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by fear of abandonment.
• Previous research indicates BPD patients experience reduced social connectedness during inclusion.
• The impact on social behavior following acceptance or rejection in BPD remains under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the differential effects of social acceptance versus rejection on social expectations and behavior in BPD.
• To explore how BPD patients adjust expectations and behave after social feedback.

Main Methods:

• Developed the Mannheim Virtual Group Interaction Paradigm using computer-controlled avatars.
• Participants (BPD patients and healthy controls) received simulated social acceptance or rejection feedback.
• Assessed social expectations and measured cooperative/aggressive behavior via a trust game.

Main Results:

• BPD patients reported lower initial expectations of social acceptance compared to controls.
• BPD patients adjusted expectations to negative feedback but not positive feedback.
• Following social acceptance, BPD patients exhibited less cooperative behavior.

Conclusions:

• Altered responses to social acceptance in BPD may impede stable relationship formation.
• Cognitive and behavioral changes in BPD affect interpersonal relationships.
• Findings highlight a clinically significant issue in BPD social functioning.