Strike a chord: How observed ostracism and perceived similarity affect observers' willingness to socialize

Abstract

Research has shown that ostracism negatively affects the social willingness of those who are ostracized, but the impact of observers, who play an important role in ostracism situations, has been less studied. Three studies examined whether observed ostracism affects observers' willingness to socialize and the underlying mechanism. The results showed that (1) observed ostracism decreased observers' willingness to socialize; (2) perceived future rejection mediated the relationship between observed ostracism and observers' willingness to socialize; and (3) perceived similarity had a moderating effect on the mediation model. Specifically, the higher the perceived similarity between observers and ostracized individuals, the stronger the effect of observed ostracism on observers' perceived future rejection and willingness to socialize. These findings contribute to a more comprehensive, systematic understanding of how ostracism affects observers, including its underlying mechanisms and boundary conditions.