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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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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: Downey, Geraldine
London, Bonita E.
Shoda, Yuichi
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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Rejection Sensitivity and the Defensive Motivational System: Insights From the Startle Response to Rejection Cues

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