When destiny hurts: Implicit theories of relationships moderate aggressive responses to ostracism
Chen, Z., DeWall, C. N., Poon, K. T., & Chen, E. W. (2012). When destiny hurts: Implicit theories of relationships moderate aggressive responses to ostracism. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 48, 1029-1036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2012.04.002
2012 Impact Factor 2.219 | 5-year Impact Factor 2.930
2012 JCR Rank 12/60, Q1 in Psychology, Social | 2012 SJR Rank 20/245, Q1 in Psychology - Social Psychology
Abstract
The current research investigates the role of implicit theories of relationships in modulating aggressive responses to ostracism. Three studies tested whether destiny beliefs (that potential relationships are either fundamentally compatible or not) predispose people to behave aggressively in the wake of ostracism. In Study 1, individual differences in destiny beliefs moderated the relationship between ostracism and aggressive affect. Two additional studies showed that manipulated destiny beliefs (vs. growth beliefs) caused ostracized participants to blast a provocateur with aversive noise (Study 2) and to give a destructive job candidate evaluation to a stranger (Study 3). These results highlight the significance of implicit theories in understanding risk factors for ostracism-related aggression.