Abstract
This research explored the phenomenon of affiliation suppression, in which a subjective experience of attraction is more positive than the behavioral response. In a narrative investigation (Study 1), a laboratory study (Study 2), and an actual/ideal discrepancy task (Study 3), we investigated the prevalence, covariates, and consequences of the suppression of behavior relative to the subjective experience. We identified evidence for several processes, including perceived acceptance, social norms, and shyness, which contributed to the reduction in the behavioral response relative to affective attraction. Furthermore, in Study 3, we identified negative emotional consequences associated with affiliation suppression. We discuss the importance of independently measuring each component of attraction, and we outline how this research provides the parameters necessary to predict when affiliative behavior results relative to affective attraction.
Highlights
This research explored the phenomenon of affiliation suppression, in which a subjective experience of attraction is more positive than the behavioral response
Difference scores are associated with reliability problems (Peters, Churchill, & Brown, 1993), unlikely assumptions regarding the relation between variables (Cohen, Cohen, West, & Aiken, 2003), and interpretative issues, as a difference score may not differentiate between the various reasons for a discrepancy
Our results largely align with the findings of Study 1, such that the self-generated reasons for affiliation suppression were similar to processes active in a controlled laboratory study
Summary
This research explored the phenomenon of affiliation suppression, in which a subjective experience of attraction is more positive than the behavioral response. The ability appraisal refers to the perception of the target person’s capacity to facilitate/hinder the perceiver’s interests These assessments combine to produce the subjective experience of attraction (i.e., affective attraction). TDMA posits that the behavioral expression of attraction communicates trust, which acts to increase the likelihood that the target person adheres to the social exchange (Montoya et al, 2018). From this perspective, people smile, make eye contact, mimic, and laugh to signal their conditional willingness to cooperate during a social exchange. The person may engage in affiliative suppression to avoid the perception that he or she likes the other person more than the other person likes him or her
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
