The effects of observed ostracism on social avoidance: The role of fear of negative evaluation and rumination

Abstract

Previous research on social exclusion has mostly focused on the effects of ostracism on the excluded or the excluder. This paper focuses on the largest group in exclusion situations—observers—and uses three studies and five experiments to explore the effects of observed ostracism on social avoidance and its mechanisms. Study 1 preliminarily explored the effects of observed ostracism on observers' social avoidance. Study 2 progressively validated the mediating role of fear of negative evaluation through three experiments. Study 3 further explored the moderating role of rumination. The results showed that (1) observed ostracism increased observers' social avoidance; (2) fear of negative evaluation mediated the relationship between observed ostracism and social avoidance; (3) rumination moderated the relationship between observed ostracism and fear of negative evaluation. Compared to individuals with low rumination, individuals with high rumination are more likely to experience fear of negative evaluation after observing ostracism. These findings highlight the impact of social exclusion on observers and provide theoretical support for interventions targeting social issues.