Increased sensitivity towards male angry face by social rejection, mediated by basic psychological needs

Tze Kwan KAM

Research output: ThesisMaster's Theses

Abstract

Objectives: This experimental study investigated the effect of social rejection on sensitivity towards emotional expressions. The mediating effects by social rejection-induced social statestress and the mediating effects by threat to basic psychological needs were investigated. Methods: 256 participants recruited from the Mechanical Turk of Amazon online survey system were randomly assigned into rejection group and acceptance group. They were asked to recall past experience of rejection/acceptance for manipulation, followed by self-report questionnaires including STAI-Y Scale and Need Threat Scale to assess the perceived level of state-stress and the threat to basic psychological needs respectively. They were then asked to perform a face stimuli test to record their threshold of recognition of each of the six emotional expressions including anger, happiness, fear, surprise, sadness and disgust. Results: The data showed significant result in which the rejection-primed participants were more sensitive to male angry face. The composite of basic psychological needs (belonging, self-esteem, meaningful existence and control) was found to be significantly mediating the effect of social rejection on sensitivity to male angry expression. The perceived level of state-stress was not significant in mediating the effect of social rejection on sensitivity to male angry expression. Conclusions: Results showed that social rejection causes increase in sensitivity towards male angry expression which is mediated by basic psychological needs. All rights reserved.
Original languageEnglish
QualificationMaster of Social Sciences
Awarding Institution
  • The Education University of Hong Kong
Supervisors/Advisors
  • POON, Kai Tak 潘啟德, Supervisor
Publication statusPublished - 2018

Keywords

  • Social rejection
  • Ostracism
  • Emotional expression
  • Sensitivity
  • Facial expression
  • Social stress
  • Basic psychological needs
  • Need threat
  • Theses and Dissertations
  • Thesis (M.Soc.Sc(Psy))--The Education University of Hong Kong, 2018.

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