Psychology
Influence of Cognitive Performance on Social Rejection
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Subject Area
Psychology
Start Date
11-4-2014 10:15 AM
End Date
11-4-2014 12:00 PM
Sponsor
Amy Bracken (Franklin College)
Description
Groups are an essential part of society used in many different settings such as work, school, and sports, and they are often formed based on individuals' social, cognitive, or physical abilities. When group membership is exclusive, it can lead to social rejection. Research suggests that social rejection can lead to harmful effects such as depression, self-defeating behavior, and withdrawal from group settings (Vandevelde & Miyahara, 2005). Much past research has focused on social rejection due to physical inabilities. However, cognitive performance is another factor that may influence an individual's likelihood of being rejected. The present study focuses on how an individual's lower cognitive performance may result in rejection from a group. Participants will be divided into two groups. Both groups will be asked to solve fifteen mathematical problems, which will be projected on a screen. In one group, a confederate will answer six out of fifteen math problems incorrectly. In the second group, the confederate will answer all of the math problems correctly. Researchers hypothesize that the lower cognitive performance level will result in more social rejection of the confederate by the participants. Rejection will be measured by factors such as the distance between desks, general body language, communication with the confederate, and a survey. This study will expand on current research by focusing on a cognitive cause of social rejection and shedding light on how weak cognitive performance of one individual can affect group dynamic.
Influence of Cognitive Performance on Social Rejection
Indianapolis, IN
Groups are an essential part of society used in many different settings such as work, school, and sports, and they are often formed based on individuals' social, cognitive, or physical abilities. When group membership is exclusive, it can lead to social rejection. Research suggests that social rejection can lead to harmful effects such as depression, self-defeating behavior, and withdrawal from group settings (Vandevelde & Miyahara, 2005). Much past research has focused on social rejection due to physical inabilities. However, cognitive performance is another factor that may influence an individual's likelihood of being rejected. The present study focuses on how an individual's lower cognitive performance may result in rejection from a group. Participants will be divided into two groups. Both groups will be asked to solve fifteen mathematical problems, which will be projected on a screen. In one group, a confederate will answer six out of fifteen math problems incorrectly. In the second group, the confederate will answer all of the math problems correctly. Researchers hypothesize that the lower cognitive performance level will result in more social rejection of the confederate by the participants. Rejection will be measured by factors such as the distance between desks, general body language, communication with the confederate, and a survey. This study will expand on current research by focusing on a cognitive cause of social rejection and shedding light on how weak cognitive performance of one individual can affect group dynamic.