Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
948060 | Journal of Experimental Social Psychology | 2012 | 4 Pages |
We hypothesized that the companionship of a close other would buffer the negative effect of ostracism for people with a strong sense of self-esteem. Participants were either included or ostracized during the experiment with the presence of a close other or a stranger. We measured the participants' self-esteem and feelings about the ostracism or inclusion experience. Consistent with our predictions, participants accompanied by a close other were less threatened by the ostracism experience than those accompanied by a stranger; furthermore, the buffering effect of a social companion on ostracism was more apparent among participants high in self-esteem but not among those low in self-esteem. The implications of these findings for ostracism research were discussed.
►We examine whether social companion influences people's response to ostracism. ►Close others can help to cope with the distress of ostracism. ►The effect of social companion depends on levels of self-esteem.