Avoidant individuals are more affected by ostracism attribution

Abstract

Ostracism causes psychological distress. Two experiments examined whether cuing possible external or internal causes of ostracism immediately after the ostracism experience would mitigate ostracism distress, and whether attachment orientations would moderate the effects of attribution on distress immediately and after a short delay after cue. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four different attribution experimental groups - ostracized with no explanation, cuing internal/external attribution, included (not ostracized)-immediately after the Cyberball game. Distress was measured immediately and after the delay. External attribution led to less distress immediately after the ostracism episode and mitigated distress altogether after the delay. Attachment avoidance moderated these attribution effects. The findings suggest that faster recovery may be achieved by cuing an external explanation for ostracism.