Nonverbal Reactions to Ostracism: When Does Ostracism Prompt Us to Reconnect or to Disconnect?

Author/Creator ORCID

Date

2016

Type of Work

Department

Program

Citation of Original Publication

Farley, S. (2016, January 26). Nonverbal Reactions to Ostracism: When Does Ostracism Prompt Us to Reconnect or to Disconnect?

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Subjects

Abstract

The present research explored the potential ability of various nonverbal behaviors to facilitate social reconnection following ostracism. In two experiments, participants played Cyberball prior to watching a film. In Experiment 1, ostracism prompted disconnection rather than reconnection, as ostracized participants smiled and laughed less while watching a compilation of humorous animal shorts than did included participants, especially with perceived out-group audience members. In Experiment 2, ostracized participants who watched someone who felt like a part of their group smiled as much as those who had been included, providing some support for attempted reconnection. These results highlight the importance of one of the boundary conditions of the social reconnection hypothesis; that ostracism only prompts reconnection attempts with those who are believed to represent viable avenues of belongingness repair.