Journal of Social Psychology最新文献

Although previous research has explored how social comparison influences types of consumer behaviors, little attention has been paid to the impact on variety-seeking. This study investigates how variety-seeking behavior serves as a compensatory tool for consumers to cope with the threats posed by upward comparison. Through four experimental studies, we find that upward comparison (vs. downward comparison) motivates consumers to restore their sense of control by engaging in more variety-seeking (Studies 1, 2, and 3). However, this effect is contingent on the type of relationship orientation. In competitive relationships, receiving information about someone else's excellence diminishes self-development, reduces the sense of control, and leads to an increase in variety-seeking. Conversely, in cooperative relationships, information about someone else's excellence helps achieve a desired goal, thereby weakening the impact of upward comparison on the sense of control (Study 4). The findings significantly contribute to the understanding of consumer behavior in the context of social comparison and have important implications for marketing strategy.

Ostracism is a common yet profoundly impactful everyday experience with severe consequences for the affected individuals. Traditional methods like experiments or surveys typically fall short in capturing the immediate effects of ostracism in daily life. Fortunately, advances in experience sampling methods, particularly through smartphone-based apps, allow for a more precise examination of ostracism as it unfolds in daily life. By integrating event-contingent and time-contingent experience sampling methods, researchers can now comprehensively study the frequency and impact of ostracism, variabilities in how individuals respond to ostracism, as well as the risk and protective factors involved in ostracism experiences. The findings hold significant potential for developing effective, personalized interventions against ostracism in various settings. In conclusion, the continued refinement and application of experience sampling methods will be essential for advancing our understanding of ostracism and addressing its harmful effects in everyday life.

Ostracism research has largely focused on the role of the target. However, this perspective does not account for the significant roles played by two other parties in the dynamics of ostracism: the sources who decide to ostracize a target and the observers who may be uninvolved or side with either the target or the sources. Here, we argue that accounting for these two perspectives is important if one wants to arrive at a comprehensive picture of ostracism episodes. We present research on the reasons and motivations of the sources for ostracizing as well as research on factors that influence moral judgments and attributions of observers. Moreover, we suggest an agenda for future research that entails 1) linking the perspectives of targets, sources, and observers, 2) developing novel paradigms to study observers and sources, and 3) designing interventions that encourage sources and observers to detect and be mindful of the use of ostracism.

Humans have an inherent need to forge stable and quality social connections. One key benefit of having social connections is obtaining social support for navigating traumatic or otherwise stressful events. Ostracism (i.e. being both ignored and excluded, Williams, 2009) and other forms of social exclusion rob individuals of the opportunity to receive social support and likely contribute to stress-related mental health concerns. My colleagues and I tested this premise in different stress-related contexts, ranging from college students struggling with potentially stigmatizing secrets to community members who have experienced various types of traumatic incidents (e.g., miscarriage, military combat). We examined the connections among perceived ostracism, social support, and traumatic stress. We also examined the complex dynamics of how social support can be both beneficial and harmful depending upon how it is expressed and received. Future research could examine chronic ostracism as a form of psychological trauma.

The experiences of invisibility and hypervisibility have a strong presence in communities that are systematically oppressed and marginalized. Invisibility is viewed as a synonym for oblivious ostracism, implying that a person is deemed "unworthy of attention" within their social environment. In contrast, hypervisibility is being focused on more than is normative in that environment. Past research has found that both the experience of invisibility and hypervisibility threaten Black individuals' fundamental needs and lead to worse mood, with invisibility being more need-threatening. Additional research indicates that individuals who experience invisibility tend to use it strategically. Future research should continue to explore the nuances and potential overlaps of invisibility and hypervisibility across the stages of the Temporal Need-Threat Model. Additionally, future researchers should utilize diverse populations and technological advancements to understand the psychological and behavioral effects of invisibility and hypervisibility in other racial and ethnic groups.

The temporal need-threat model of ostracism, developed by Kipling Williams, provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how ostracism - being ignored and excluded - impacts fundamental human needs over time. This manuscript critically examines the temporal dimension of this model by addressing three key questions. First, does chronic ostracism inevitably lead to resignation? This section explores the inevitability of resignation outcomes and the potential role of moderating factors. Second, do individual differences influence reactions across the model's three stages? This section investigates how personal traits may shape responses to ostracism, from reflexive reactions to long-term resignation. Third, how can the model be adapted to capture the specific features of digital ostracism? This section discusses the challenges and opportunities involved in applying the model to technology-mediated interactions. Ultimately, the manuscript advances theoretical and empirical understanding by refining the temporal structure of the model to account for both in-person and digital forms of ostracism.

The field of ostracism research is witnessing a growing interest in understanding ostracism - being excluded and ignored - as a lived experience outside of the laboratory context. How do researchers draw valid causal conclusions about naturally occurring experiences of ostracism without relying on experimental designs? In this article, we draw on insights from the well-established causal inference framework to emphasize a critical step for strengthening causal rigor: stating the causal estimand. Using an intuitive example, we illustrate what a causal estimand is, how to define it, and why it matters. With this article, we encourage readers to think clearly about causal estimands before conducting any data analysis. This conceptual step holds the potential for enhancing the rigor and precision of research studying ostracism as a naturally occurring phenomenon.

Individuals can receive plenty of attention but still feel ignored. This paper expands Williams's work on ostracism - being ignored and excluded - by demonstrating that partial ostracism operates through different paths: inconsistent attention, selective inclusion, or superficial recognition that ignores essential aspects of a person's identity. I trace how partial ostracism research evolved from Cyberball's irregular inclusion to out of the loop informational exclusion. I then demonstrate how sexual objectification represents a form of partial ostracism where women feel ostracized despite receiving focused attention because the recognition centers on their appearance while disregarding their personhood. This challenges the previous assumption that receiving attention is the polar opposite to being ostracized. It also opens the possibility that partial ostracism manifests across diverse contexts, such as: inconsistent caregiving that forms anxious attachment or workplace tokenism that makes minority members hypervisible yet marginalized. These examples reveal the potential pervasiveness of partial ostracism in everyday social interactions, underscoring the importance of systematic investigation.

Dr. Kipling Williams was at the forefront of examining ostracism (being excluded and ignored). To acknowledge his essential contributions, we compiled a special issue consisting of several former students and mentees describing how their work expands on Williams's foundational scholarship. In the current article, we provided a brief overview of ostracism to contextualize the subsequent articles in this special issue. We summarized Williams's journey in studying both the effects of and uses for ostracism. This includes his initial inspiration and first forays into theory-building and multimethod approaches, the development of Cyberball (a virtual ball-toss game used to manipulate ostracism), and his temporal-response model that framed psychological research investigating ostracism's effects on targets for over two decades. Williams also considered the psychological dynamics of being a source of ostracism, postulating that individuals ostracize others defensively, punitively, obliviously, or accidentally. We conclude by introducing the key themes covered by his former students' and mentees' research programs and discussing how they are collectively the next wave of ostracism research, both for targets and sources.