Cited by 719Death Anxiety and Social ExclusionAttachment and Relationship DynamicsPersonality Traits and Psychology

The self-fulfilling prophecy in close relationships: Rejection sensitivity and rejection by romantic partners.

Downey, Geraldine, Freitas, Antonio L., Michaelis, Benjamin, Khouri, Hala·1998·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

Abstract

The authors hypothesized a self-fulfilling prophecy wherein rejection expectancies lead people to behave in ways that elicit rejection from their dating partners. The hypothesis was tested in 2 studies of conflict in couples: (a) a longitudinal field study where couples provided daily-diary reports and (b) a lab study involving behavioral observations. Results from the field study showed that high rejection-sensitive (HRS) people's relationships were more likely to break up than those of low rejection-sensitive (LRS) people. Conflict processes that contribute to relationship erosion were revealed for HRS women but not for HRS men. Following naturally occurring relationship conflicts, HRS women's partners were more rejecting than were LRS women's partners. The lab study showed that HRS women's negative behavior during conflictual discussions helped explain their partners' more rejecting postconflict responses.

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Crossref · 10.1037/0022-3514.75.2.545

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  • Anticipation of rejection may lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy in which individuals behave out of fear, thereby creating a situation that elicits rejection from others and in which the previous fears are confirmed.

    “This anticipation may lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy in which individuals behave out of fear, thereby creating a situation that elicits rejection from others and in which the previous fears are confirmed (Downey, Freitas, Michaelis, & Khouri, 1998).”

    From Associations between rejection sensitivity and mental health outcomes: A meta-analytic review (2017) · cites this paper as Downey, Freitas, Michaelis, & Khouri, 1998

  • Self-fulfilling prophecies can be pernicious when the beliefs at the center capture negative social conceptions, such as stereotypes, anxious expectations, fear, or hostility.

    “Importantly, SFPs can be pernicious when the beliefs at the center of them capture negative social conceptions, for instance, stereotypes, anxious expectations, fear, or hostility (Darley and Gross 1983;Downey et al. 1998;Madon et al. 2018).”

    From What Is the Function of Confirmation Bias? (2022) · cites this paper as Downey et al. 1998

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Authors
Downey, G., Freitas, A. L., Michaelis, B., & Khouri, H.
Affiliations
Columbia University (US)
Venue
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Published
1998
Volume
75
Issue
2
Pages
545-560
ISSN
  • 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1315
OpenAlex
W4243781437
Cited by
719
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 42 · 2017: 36 · 2016: 40 · 2015: 51 · 2014: 51 · 2013: 41 · 2012: 34
FWCI
14.53
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
self-fulfilling prophecy, close relationships, rejection sensitivity, romantic partners, partner rejection, interpersonal rejection, romantic relationships
MeSH terms
Adult, Cognition, Conflict, Psychological, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Love, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Rejection, Psychology

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