RESPONSES TO SOCIAL REJECTION: INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF ATTACHMENT STYLES AND REJECTION SENSITIVITY IN SOCIAL RECONNECTION

Abstract

Rejection is a distressing experience that thwarts our fundamental need for positive social connections. The aftermath of rejection involves a myriad of responses ranging from affiliative and prosocial behavior to hostile and aggressive ones. These incongruent social responses could reflect the underlying coping strategies of different attachment styles to navigate their social bonds. Moreover, rejection sensitivity could serve to explain the affiliative behaviors among anxious individuals following rejection. Our present study thus seeks to examine the effects of attachment styles on social reconnection and investigate the role of rejection sensitivity in explaining the relationship between anxious attachment and social reconnection. 217 participants were recruited and were assessed on their desire to affiliation with others following the recall of a rejection experience. Results indicated that anxious attachment predicts a greater desire for social reconnection whereas avoidant attachment predicts a lower desire for reconnection. Results also showed that rejection sensitivity is the mechanism through which anxious attachment influences social reconnection. This study is pertinent in shedding light on the individual differences and underlying mechanisms behind the social responses to rejection, which could help inform effective interventions to promote affiliative behavior and healthier motives for affiliation.