Effects of Social Exclusion in The Context of Chronic Embitterment

Effects of Social Exclusion in The Context of Chronic Embitterment: How Social Exclusion Experiences Affect Chronic Embittered People in Their Behaviour and Physiology

This experimental, anonymous labor study aims to examine how experiences of social exclusion influence individuals in their fairness-behaviour, psychophysical reactions, and emotion regulation depending on their extent of bitterness. Points given for fairness reasons, just world belief, rejection sensitivity, well-being, cognitive emotion regulation strategies, and heart rate variability (HRV) are measured and analyzed using structural equation modeling and multiple regression.

Embitterment is defined as an emotional response due to an event which is subjectively perceived as unjust. Nonetheless, there is little empiric evidence of unjust behaviour by others in the interpersonal context that triggers embitterment reactions. Ostracism, is an act where a person is excluded from a social environment without any reasons. This experimental labor study examines how the experiences of this form of social exclusion influences individuals depending on their self-evaluated embitterment. That is, fairness-behaviour is assessed as well as changes in hearth rate variability.

Inclusion Criteria:

• German language, 18 years old, no cardiovascular disease
• The participation in the anonymous labor study is voluntary, participants gave consent to use the data with their participation.

Exclusion Criteria:

• None