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Rejection sensitivity and the defensive motivational system: Insights from the startle response to rejection cues

Downey, Geraldine, Mougios, Vivian, Ayduk, Ozlem, London, Bonita E., Shoda, Yuichi·2004·Psychological Science
DOI 10.1111/j.0956-7976.2004.00738.x
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Abstract

Rejection sensitivity (RS) is the disposition to anxiously expect, readily perceive, and intensely react to rejection. This study used the startle probe paradigm to test whether the affect-based defensive motivational system is automatically activated by rejection cues in people who are high in RS. Stimuli were representational paintings depicting rejection (by Hopper) and acceptance (by Renoir), as well as nonrepresentational paintings of either negative or positive valence (by Rothko and Miro, respectively). Eyeblink startle magnitude was potentiated in people high in RS when they viewed rejection themes, compared with when they viewed nonrepresentational negative themes. Startle magnitude was not attenuated during viewing of acceptance themes in comparison with nonrepresentational positive themes. Overall, the results provide evidence that for people high in RS, rejection cues automatically activate the defensive motivational system, but acceptance cues do not automatically activate the appetitive motivational system.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.0956-7976.2004.00738.x

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  • Rejection sensitivity can be explained as a state of a defensive motivational system.

    “Rejection sensitivity can also be explained as a state of a defensive motivational system (Downey, Mougios, Ayduk, London, & Shoda, 2004;Romero-Canyas et al., 2010).”

    From Associations between rejection sensitivity and mental health outcomes: A meta-analytic review (2017) · cites this paper as Downey et al., 2004

  • Compared to individuals with low rejection sensitivity, individuals with high rejection sensitivity show heightened physiological activity.

    “Compared to individuals with low rejection sensitivity, individuals with high rejection sensitivity show heightened physiological activity (Downey et al., 2004)”

    From Associations between rejection sensitivity and mental health outcomes: A meta-analytic review (2017) · cites this paper as Downey et al., 2004

  • When rejection is the threat, activation of the rejection sensitivity system prepares individuals to detect signs of social threat, and to be ready for immediate action in order to avert the danger by being self-defensive.

    “When rejection is the threat, activation of the rejection sensitivity system prepares individuals to detect signs of social threat, and to be ready for immediate action in order to avert the danger by being self-defensive (Downey et al., 2004).”

    From Associations between rejection sensitivity and mental health outcomes: A meta-analytic review (2017) · cites this paper as Downey et al., 2004

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Authors
Downey, G., Mougios, V., Ayduk, O., London, B. E., & Shoda, Y.
Affiliations
  • Columbia University (US)
  • Long Island University (US)
  • University of California, Berkeley;
  • University of Washington (US)
ORCID
Venue
Psychological Science
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2004-10
Volume
15
Issue
10
Pages
668-673
ISSN
  • 0956-7976 (ISSN-L)
  • 1467-9280
DOI
10.1111/j.0956-7976.2004.00738.x
OpenAlex
W2135060565
Cited by
264
References
26
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 14
FWCI
8.34
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (1r29mh051113-01)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH 51113, MH39349)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
rejection sensitivity, startle response, automatic activation, affective motivation, fear of rejection
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Cues, Defense Mechanisms, Humans, Motivation, Pilot Projects, Surveys and Questionnaires, Rejection, Psychology, Reflex, Startle

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