Underdogs make an alliance: the co-experience of rejection promotes cooperation

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Miao, Xiao-Yan;Chan, Kai Qin;Gao, Cong;Lv, Sa-Sa;Zhu, Yuxi;Wang, Zuo-Jun
Abstract

Social rejection research has largely focused on the consequences of rejection when individuals experience rejection alone. Yet little is known about the reaction of those co-experiencing rejection. We tested the hypothesis that the co-experience of rejection increases cooperation between the co-experiencers. Three experiments provided supporting evidence for the hypothesis. The participants cooperated more when they co-experienced rejection than when they experienced rejection alone. The need to belong mediated the relationship between those co-experiencing rejection and cooperation. These findings shed light on the factors that initiate the formation of small groups, especially deviant ones.

Journal

British Journal of Social Psychology

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Volume

59

ISBN/ISSN

2044-8309

Edition

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Issue

4

Pages Count

24

Location

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Publisher

Wiley

Publisher Url

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Publisher Location

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Publish Date

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Url

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Date

N/A

EISSN

N/A

DOI

10.1111/bjso.12368