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Implications of rejection sensitivity for intimate relationships

Downey, Geraldine, Feldman, Scott I.·1996·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

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Abstract

People who are sensitive to social rejection tend to anxiously expect, readily perceive, and overreact to it. This article shows that this cognitive-affective processing disposition undermines intimate relationships. Study 1 describes a measure that operationalizes the anxious-expectations component of rejection sensitivity.

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Crossref · 10.1037/0022-3514.70.6.1327

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“Insensitive and unresponsive parenting experienced as infants leads to an increased sensitivity to rejection among adults with higher levels of attachment anxiety (Bowlby, 1988; Downey & Feldman, 1996; Mikulincer, Shaver & Pereg, 2003).”
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“…Baumeister, 2000 ; Leary, Haupt, Strausser, & Chokel, 1998 ; Murray et al., 1998 ; Murray, Bellavia, Rose, & Griffi n, 2003 ), rejection sensitivity (Downey & Feldman, 1996 ), and attachment styles (Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978 ; Bowlby, 1982 ; Hazan & Shaver, 1987 ; Shaver, Hazan, &…”
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“Rejection sensitivity refers to a cognitive-affective processing disposition in which inevitable rejection by others is anxiously presumed, readily perceived, and overreacted to, often with hostility, attempts to control the other, or withdrawal (Downey & Feldman, 1996).”
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Who is more willing to engage in social rejection? The roles of self-esteem, rejection sensitivity, and negative affect in social rejection decisions
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“For the RSQ-8 (Downey & Feldman, 1996), participants read eight scenarios and for each scenario indicated how likely they would be to experience acceptance on a 1 ( very unlikely ) to 6 ( very likely ) scale and how concerned they would be about being rejected on a 1 ( very unconcerned ) to 6 (…”
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“Insecurely attached individuals (Bowlby, 1969), as well as those with high levels of rejection sensitivity (Downey & Feldman, 1996), might perceive greater utility in earning self-esteem from money and material possessions rather than from close relationships.”
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Self-esteem, Social Inclusionary Status, and Inhibition of Rejection
Sinclair, L., & Lentz, T. (2009) · Self and Identity · doi:10.1080/15298860903395826 · Cited by 5
“Furthermore, trait SE has been found to correlate negatively with rejection sensitivity (Downey & Feldman, 1996 ) and perceptions of ostracism (Sommer, Williams, Ciarocco & Baumeister, 2001 ).”
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“Past studies have shown that rejection sensitivity leads to negative interpersonal relationships, and a feeling of increased interpersonal distress (Downey & Feldman 1996; Feldman & Downey, 1994; Romero-Canyas & Downey, 2005).”
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Authors: Downey, G., & Feldman, S. I.
Affiliations: Columbia University (US)
ORCID: Downey, Geraldine
Venue: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 1996
Volume: 70
Issue: 6
Pages: 1327-1343
ISSN: 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
1939-1315
DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.70.6.1327
OpenAlex: W4241492439
Cited by: 2,110
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 135 · 2025: 115 · 2024: 104 · 2023: 139 · 2022: 118 · 2021: 108 · 2020: 144 · 2019: 84 · 2018: 94 · 2017: 107 · 2016: 98 · 2015: 98 · 2014: 104 · 2013: 93 · 2012: 76
FWCI: 16.75
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: National Institutes of Health (1r29mh051113-01)
National Institute of Mental Health (R29-MH51113)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
Keywords: rejection sensitivity, intimate relationships, interpersonal rejection, romantic relationships
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Adult, Female, Gender Identity, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Personality Assessment, Psychometrics, Rejection, Psychology, Social Perception, Social Support

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Implications of rejection sensitivity for intimate relationships

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