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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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Meehan, K. B., Cain, N. M., Roche, M. J., Fertuck, E. A., Sowislo, J. F., & Clarkin, J. F. (2023) · Journal of Personality Disorders · doi:10.1521/pedi.2023.37.5.490 · Cited by 10
Childhood emotional maltreatment and sensitivity to social rejection in emerging adults
Euteneuer, F., Lass‐Hennemann, J., Pfundmair, M., Salzmann, S., & Kuehl, L. K. (2023) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106604 · Cited by 15
Too vulnerable to resist: Problematic use of dating apps associated with social appearance anxiety, social interaction anxiety, and rejection sensitivity
Huang, Y.-T., & Gong, A.-D. (2025) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2025.108566 · Cited by 15
Measuring peer influence susceptibility to alcohol use: Convergent and predictive validity of a new analogue assessment
Duell, N., Clayton, M. G., Telzer, E. H., & Prinstein, M. J. (2020) · International Journal of Behavioral Development · doi:10.1177/0165025420965729 · Cited by 14
Longitudinal Relations between Rejection Sensitivity and Adjustment in Chinese Children: Moderating Effect of Emotion Regulation
Ding, X., Ooi, L. L., Coplan, R. J., Zhang, W., & Yao, W. (2021) · The Journal of Genetic Psychology · doi:10.1080/00221325.2021.1945998 · Cited by 11
“…argue that perceived rejection may lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy in which individuals high in RS may emotionally respond and behave in ways that not only confirm and perpetuate negative feelings, but also elicit subsequent rejection (Downey & Feldman, 1996; Gao, Assink, Cipriani, & Lin, 2017).”
Background
Rejection sensitivity and interaction quality in everyday life
Bayer, J., Triệu, P., Ellison, N. B., Schoenebeck, S. Y., & Falk, E. B. (2021) · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships · doi:10.1177/02654075211034237 · Cited by 10
“For instance, rejection-sensitive people are more likely to misperceive ambiguous cues as signs of rejection (Downey & Feldman, 1996), and see seemingly neutral actions by their romantic partners as conflictual (Norona et al., 2014).”
Background
Rejection Sensitivity in Intimate Relationships
Richter, M., & Schoebi, D. (2021) · Zeitschrift für Psychologie · doi:10.1027/2151-2604/a000448 · Cited by 13
The instigating effects of isolation on substance-related intimate partner violence: A review
Eckhardt, C. I., Oesterle, D. W., & Maloney, M. (2021) · Current Opinion in Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.08.007 · Cited by 10
Longitudinal study of social anxiety symptoms and appearance rejection in predicting body dysmorphic symptoms: Appearance-based rejection sensitivity as a mediator
Brekalo, M. (2022) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.07.019 · Cited by 15
Heterogeneity in some relationships between social media use and emerging adults’ affective wellbeing
Griffioen, N., Scholten, H., Lichtwarck‐Aschoff, A., Maciejewski, D. F., & Granic, I. (2022) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-022-04035-5 · Cited by 11
“Rejection sensitivity, which is defined as the extent to which one fears and anticipates rejection of the self by others (Downey & Feldman, 1996), is considered an important risk factor for the development of depressive symptoms (Chango et al., 2012).”
Background
A Study on the Effects of Family and Delinquent Peers on Juvenile Delinquency in Turkey
İçli, T., & Çoban, S. (2012) · Advances in Applied Sociology · doi:10.4236/aasoci.2012.21009 · Cited by 10
The Relations Between Secrecy, Rejection Sensitivity and Autonomy-Connectedness
Wismeijer, A. A. J., van Assen, M. A. L. M., & Bekker, M. H. J. (2014) · The Journal of General Psychology · doi:10.1080/00221309.2013.862200 · Cited by 10
“Indeed, rejection sensitivity has been shown to be negatively associated with secure attachment (Downey & Feldman, 1996; Mikulincer, Shaver, Bar-On, & Ein-Dor, 2010).”
Background
Self-esteem modulates the latency of P2 component in implicit self-relevant processing
Yang, J., Qi, M., & Guan, L. (2014) · Biological Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2014.01.004 · Cited by 10
Neuroeconomics for the study of social cognition in adolescent depression.
Mellick, W. H., Sharp, C., & Ernst, M. (2015) · Clinical Psychology Science and Practice · doi:10.1111/cpsp.12106 · Cited by 9
“…higher offers (Destoop et al., 2012; Scheele et al., 2013), which may be due to the fact that they are sensitive to interpersonal rejection (see Downey & Feldman, 1996) or that they are generally risk averse (see Yuen & Lee, 2003) and unwilling to take the chance that the other player will…”
Searching for acceptance: Prejudice expectations direct attention towards social acceptance cues when under a promotion focus
Ståhl, T., van Laar, C., Ellemers, N., & Derks, B. (2012) · Group Processes & Intergroup Relations · doi:10.1177/1368430211435485 · Cited by 12
“…partners from high-status groups (Vorauer, 2006), develop expectations of prejudiced treatment (Pinel, 1999; Vorauer, Main, & O’Connell, 1998; cf. Downey & Feldman, 1996), and frequently avoid interactions across group boundaries altogether (Shelton & Richeson, 2006; Stephan & Stephan, 1985).”
Background
Race-Based Rejection Sensitivity and Racial Identity Predict African American Students’ Reactions to the Fatal Shooting of Other African Americans: Personal Threat and Identification with Shooting Victims as Mediators
Roberts, L. B., Maduro, R. S., Derlega, V. J., Peterkin, A. L., Hacker, D. S., & Ellis, K. T. (2017) · Journal of Loss and Trauma · doi:10.1080/15325024.2017.1328242 · Cited by 10
The weighting of positive vs. negative valence and its impact on the formation of social relationships
Rocklage, M. D., Pietri, E. S., & Fázio, R. H. (2017) · Journal of Experimental Social Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2017.06.011 · Cited by 10
Characteristics for the Identification of Children Who Commit Family Murder in South Africa
Moen, M. C. (2017) · Journal of Interpersonal Violence · doi:10.1177/0886260517717493 · Cited by 10
“Downey and Feldman (1996) determined that rejection was associated with feelings of jealousy, depression, and aggression.”
Background
Effects of Social Exclusion on Effortful Control and Mentalizing in relation to Borderline Personality Features
Sato, M., Fonagy, P., & Luyten, P. (2018) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-018-32775-7 · Cited by 10
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adulthood Negotiation in Intimate Partner Violence: The Sequentially Paradoxical Role of Interpersonal Sensitivity Among Female Inmates
Johns, L., Maharjan, S., Magana, G., Kamptner, L., & Lewin, M. (2019) · Journal of Interpersonal Violence · doi:10.1177/0886260518823298 · Cited by 11
“…rejection sensitive have been shown to react with increased hostility and physical aggression in romantic relationships (Ayduk, Downey, Testa, Yen, & Shoda, 1999; Ayduk, Gyurak, & Luerssen, 2008; Downey & Feldman, 1996; Purdie & Downey, 2000; Romero-Canyas, Downey, Berenson, Ayduk, & Khang, 2010).”
Background
Feeling Like a Burden
Wirth, J. H., Allen, A. B., & Zitek, E. M. (2020) · Social Psychology · doi:10.1027/1864-9335/a000411 · Cited by 10
Borderline Personality Features in Patients With Persistent Depressive Disorder and Their Effect on CBASP Outcome
Konvalin, F., Grosse-Wentrup, F., Nenov-Matt, T., Fischer, K., Barton, B. B., Goerigk, S. A., Brakemeier, E., Musil, R., Jobst, A., Padberg, F., et al. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.608271 · Cited by 12
“Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire Rejection sensitivity was assessed at baseline with the rejection sensitivity questionnaire [RSQ, (26, 60)].”
BackgroundMethod
Transactions between self-esteem and perceived conflict in romantic relationships: A 5-year longitudinal study
Richter, J., & Finn, C. T. (2021) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0248620 · Cited by 16
“As fear of rejection is associated to self-esteem [27], this finding might indicate a spill-over effect of self-esteem on the partner’s satisfaction.”
Background
Stigma Cues Increase Self-Conscious Emotions and Decrease Likelihood of Attention to Information about Preventing Stigmatized Health Issues
Earl, A. N., Nisson, C. A., & Albarracín, D. (2015) · Acta de Investigación Psicológica · doi:10.1016/s2007-4719(15)30006-5 · Cited by 10
“Chronic sensitivity to stigma cues was assessed with the Adult Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ; Downey & Feldman, 1996).”
Cascading Metaperceptions: Signal Amplification Bias as a Consequence of Reflected Self-esteem
Cameron, J. J., Holmes, J. G., & Vorauer, J. D. (2010) · Self and Identity · doi:10.1080/15298860903429542 · Cited by 10
“In comparison to those with higher self-esteem (HSEs), lower self-esteem individuals (LSEs) experience greater fears of being negatively appraised or rejected by a romantic partner (Downey & Feldman, 1996 ).”
Background
Emotion understanding, interpersonal competencies and loneliness among students
Moroń, M. (2014) · Polish Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.2478/ppb-2014-0028 · Cited by 12
“Not only sex, but also other variables (e.g. rejection sensitivity; Downey & Feldman, 1996) could moderate the relation between emotion understanding and loneliness.”
Background
It's my partner, deal with it: Rejection sensitivity, normative beliefs, and commitment
Besikci, E., Agnew, C. R., & Yıldırım, A. (2016) · Personal Relationships · doi:10.1111/pere.12131 · Cited by 12
Rejection Sensitivity as a Moderator of Psychosocial Outcomes Following Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury
Meadows, E. A., Yeates, K. O., Rubin, K. H., Taylor, H. G., Bigler, E. D., Dennis, M., Gerhardt, C. A., Vannatta, K. A., Stancin, T., & Hoskinson, K. R. (2017) · Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society · doi:10.1017/s1355617717000352 · Cited by 10
“One factor that may contribute to poor psychosocial outcomes after TBI is RS, which is the dispositional tendency to anxiously expect or readily perceive and overreact to cues of rejection in the behaviors of one’s peers (Downey & Feldman, 1996).”
Background

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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