Abstract
This study examined the mediating role of state self-esteem in the effect of social exclusion on risk-taking behavior and the moderating role of self-affirmation in the effect of social exclusion on risk-taking behavior. In experiment 1, social rejection was manipulated through the Cyberball paradigm, and risk-taking behaviors were measured using Balloon Analogue Risk Task, which confirmed the positive effect of social rejection on risk-taking behaviors. Experiment 2 measured individuals’ state self-esteem by questionnaire, and investigated the mediating effect of state self-esteem between social rejection and risk-taking behavior. Experiment 3 tested the regulating effect of self-affirmation by manipulating the subjects’ self-affirmation. The main conclusions of the study are as follows: 1) social exclusion significantly affected risk-taking behaviors, and the level of risk-taking behaviors in the social exclusion group was significantly higher than that in the social acceptance group; 2) state self-esteem plays a partial mediating role between social exclusion and risky behaviors; 3) self-affirmation moderates the mediating effect of state self-esteem and the direct effect of social exclusion on risk-taking behavior.
Highlights
Seeking social acceptance and maintaining close relationships are two of the most basic human needs (Baumeister & Leary, 1995)
Pared-samples T-test conducted between the estimated value and the true value, and the difference was not significant, that is, there is no significant difference between the estimated catch probability and the real catch probability
The moderating effect of self-affirmation on risk-taking behavior was examined, and the results showed that the main effect of social exclusion was significant (F (1, 157) = 15.12, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.08), The main effect of self-affirmation is significant (F (1, 157) = 7.83, p < 0.01, η2 = 0.05), Social exclusion and self-affirmation have significant interactive effects (F (1, 157) = 5.38, p < 0.05, η2 = 0.08)
Summary
Seeking social acceptance and maintaining close relationships are two of the most basic human needs (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). Individuals are willing to invest or sacrifice important resources, such as time and money, to ensure meet those basic needs (Duclos et al 2013). People are often rejected, such as romantic relationships disappear, being ignored in parties or office conversations, the friendly suggestion was turned down, this is the social exclusion from. When individuals experience social exclusion, there are negative consequences (Mead, et al, 2011), Individuals who suffer social rejection experience negative emotions (Legate et al, 2013), overeating (Twenge, Catanese, & Baumeister, 2002), time perception goes down (Baumeister, Twenge, & Nuss, 2002), violent crime (Twenge et al, 2001). Social exclusion can threaten people’s sense of belonging, self-esteem, self-control and sense of existence, and increase maladaptive behaviors, risky behaviors and risk-taking behaviors
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