57
The effects of psychosocial resources on adaptation
after social exclusion
Kuniaki YANAGISAWA
Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University
Abstract: The present paper proposes a model of
"state-based"
psychosocial resource,
acts
to
the effect of psychosocial resources on the
regulate the impact of social exclusion after the
adaptation process that occurs after social
latter has occurred, but does not appear to
exclusion. Although human beings have access to
influence the earlier process whereby individuals
various psychosocial resources that are associated
estimate the potential impact of social exclusion.
with better adaptation to social exclusion, each
Finally, on the basis of the findings described in
resource can have different impacts at different
each of the preceding chapters, the more general
stages in a
series of adaptation processes
effects of various psychosocial resources on the
occurring after social exclusion. The present
process of adaptation after social exclusion are
study investigated the hypothesis that resources
discussed in chapter 5.
reflecting past experience influence the impact
estimation process, while resources that reflect
a "future perspective" influence subsequent
Chapter 1: Previous studies of social
exclusion
regulation attempts. Chapter 1 presents a review
of the literature on the relationship between
Social exclusion often evokes social pain in
psychosocial resources and the experience of
excluded individuals. Human beings have a
social pain during exclusion, and the neural
strong fundamental need to form and maintain
mechanisms which are though to reflect this
social relationships, and this need likely has
relationship. Chapter 2 demonstrates that trait
deep roots in our evolutionary history, exerting
self-esteem
a powerful impact on contemporary human
and
general
psychosocial resources)
trust
buffer
(trait-based
psychological processes (Baumeister & Leary,
against
social
1995; Leary & Baumeister, 2000). Failure to
(e.g.,
have these needs met would therefore be
withdrawal from interpersonal relationships).
expected to lead to strong feelings of social
Chapter 3 describes evidence that general trust
pain, which can serve to promote various
and trait self-esteem probably have different
maladaptive reactions in extreme cases (e.g.,
impacts at different times over the course of a
depression, aggression against others, suicide).
series of adaptive processes, all geared toward
Some recent studies suggest that people
maladaptive behavior
exclusion from
the
a
subsequent to
gaming simulation
modulation of social pain.
Chapter 4
with ample psychosocial resources do suffer
describes the finding that a temporal distance
fewer negative effects during or after social
approach (i.e., imagining the distant future), a
exclusion (e.g., Eisenberger, Taylor, Gable,
Kuniaki Yanagisawa
58
Hilmert, & Lieberman, 2007; Kross, Egner,
individuals who experience social pain as a
Ochsner, Hirsch, & Downey, 2007). Compared
result
to those individuals with few such resources,
However, if indeed psychosocial resources can
people with ample psychosocial resources may
serve to regulate social pain, people with ample
experience diminished social pain responses
resources would be expected to differ from
because (a) they have a higher threat-detection
people with few such resources in terms of
threshold, meaning that potential exclusion
interpersonal behavior subsequent to social
events are less likely to be perceived as
exclusion. One study examined trait self-
threatening in the first place (i.e., social pain
esteem as a psychosocial resource which reflects
impact estimation processes), and/or (b) such
past experience (Leary, Tambor, Terdal, &
individuals are more effective at regulating the
Downs, 1995), while another focused on general
social pain that results when a threat is
trust as a trait psychosocial resource which
detected (i.e., social pain regulation processes).
reflects a "future perspective" (e.g., Yamagishi,
In addition, there are at least two types of
1998), with both studies investigating effects on
neural structure underlying these adaptive
interpersonal behavior after social exclusion
processes: Neural structures that are involved in
from a gaming simulation.
(e.g.,
Downey
&
Feldman,
1996).
detecting or evaluating potential social exclusion
Across the two studies, participants who
threats, such as the dorsal anterior cingulate
experienced social exclusion during an initial
cortex (dACC), and neural regions involved in
game
regulating or inhibiting social pain responses,
interactions with others in a subsequent game,
including the right ventrolateral prefrontal
as compared to those who were included.
cortex (rVLPFC) (Eisenberger, Lieberman, &
However, this effect occurred only in those people
Williams, 2003).
with relatively few psychosocial resources. These
showed
a
decreased
frequency
of
Based on the findings described above, a
findings strongly suggest that responsiveness
model of the effect of psychosocial resources on
after social exclusion may be moderated by
adaptation to social exclusion can be proposed. In
psychosocial resources.
particular, the present chapter focuses on (a) the
resources that involve an accumulation of past
experiences and that may influence social pain
impact estimation processes, and (b) resources
Chapter 3: The effect of trait
psychosocial resources on adaptation
to social exclusion
which reflect adoption of a future-oriented
perspective, which can influence subsequent
Previous neuroscience studies suggest that
social pain regulation processes. The following
the
ventrolateral
prefrontal
and
anterior
chapters further describe these relationships and
cingulate cortices (VLPFC and ACC respectively)
the associated neural mechanisms.
play an extremely important role in reactions to
social exclusion (e.g., Eisenberger et aI., 2003).
Chapter 2: Psychosocial resources
buffer against maladaptive behavior
after social exclusion
The ACC appears to be involved in detecting or
evaluating potential social exclusion threats,
while the VLPFC is involved in the regulation or
inhibition of social pain.
Social
maladaptive
exclusion
behavior
sometimes
in
those
Notably,
previous
evokes
research indicates that the VLPFC activity
excluded
associated with social pain occurs only in the
Psychosocial resources after social pain
59
case of explicit social exclusion or ESE (i.e., when
"temporal distance approach" can help regulate
others prevent individuals from participating in
the impact of social pain during both ISE and
a social activity), and does not occur in the case
ESE. Further development of effective strategies
of implicit social exclusion or ISE (i.e., when
for the regulation of social pain remains an
individuals are unable to join other participants
urgent priority,
in a social activity because of extenuating
remains to be identified. However, relatively
circumstances) (Eisenberger et al., 2003). This
extensive
pattern suggests that the direct self-regulation of
research does hint at a potentially effective
social pain occurs only in response to ESE. Based
approach.
on previous findings, trait self-esteem would
spatial, and social) often helps to facilitate
mainly buffer against social pain subsequent to
adaptive coping and self-control (Alford & Beck,
ISE, while general trust would primarily buffer
1998; Ayduk & Kross, 2008; Kross & Ayduk,
against social pain resulting from ESE.
2008; Liberman &
and
an
psychological
optimal
and
neuroscience
distance
Psychological
Trope,
approach
(temporal,
2008).
Because
One study has investigated the relationship
temporal distance appears to promote successful
between trait self-esteem and general trust on
self-regulation, we hypothesized that imagining
the one hand, and the social pain impact of two
the distant future would help to regulate the
forms of social exclusion (implicit and explicit)
social pain that is experienced during ESE,
on the other, using a chat room conversation
although this technique should not prove
paradigm. Trait self-esteem predicted social
effective
pain during ISE, while general trust predicted
regulation likely does not occur.
social pain in the ESE condition. Another study
In
during
one
ISE,
where
experiment,
direct
self-
participants
who
assessed rVLPFC activity during social exclusion,
imagined the distant future (i.e., what next
within the context of a social neuroscientific
year would be like and beyond) felt less social
experiment (Cyber-ball paradigm). Levels of trait
pain during ESE (but not ISE), as compared to
self-esteem and general trust were negatively
imagining events in the near future (i.e., tonight
correlated with social pain in the exclusion
and tomorrow). An additional study examined
conditions.
Furthermore,
general trust
positively correlated with rVLPFC
was
rVLPFC activity during social exclusion. Again,
activity,
participants who imagined the distant future
although there was no such relationship with
suffered less
social
self-esteem. Finally, rVLPFC activity mediated
condition. In addition, temporal distance led to
the relationship between general trust levels
increased rVLPFC activity during ESE. Finally,
and social pain. Taken together, these findings
rVLPFC activity appears to account for the
suggest that trait self-esteem mainly affects the
association between temporal distance and
social pain impact estimation process, while
social pain observed under ESE conditions.
general trust may serve to regulate social pain
These
per se.
temporal distance is an effective approach that
findings
pain
suggest
during
that
an
focusing
ESE
on
serves to promote rVLPFC activity, which
Chapter 4: Temporal distance
insulates against immediate social
paIn
itself reflects the regulation of social pain
during exclusion. Temporal distance therefore
acts to regulate the impact of social exclusion
after the latter has occurred, but does not
A recent investigation examined whether a
appear to influence the earlier process whereby
60
Kuniaki Yanagisawa
individuals estimate the potential impact of a
better adaptation to social exclusion, each
social exclusion scenario.
resource
pool
has
a
different
impact
at
different stages in a series of adaptation
Chapter 5: Summary and future
directions
processes occurring after social exclusion. A
"temporal distance approach" appears to be of
practical value in the regulation of social pain.
In a senes of preceding chapters, we
Methodologically
speaking,
relationship
resources on the adaptation process after social
researchers and workers in social neuroscience
exclusion, providing several convergent lines of
is likely to yield further important insights.
Interpersonal
social
collaborative
examined a model of the effect of psychosocial
evidence. Psychosocial resources that reflect an
between
a
relationship
psychological
factors
(e.g.,
individual's past experience appear to influence
social support and high-maintenance interactions
the social pain impact estimation process, while
with others) and social structural factors (e.g.,
the resources that reflect a "future perspective"
poverty and social strata) likely both playa role
appear to influence
subsequent regulation
in adaptation to social exclusion. Further work
attempts. Such findings have clear theoretical,
will be necessary to investigate this "expanded"
practical and methodological significance. It is
model, across these different research domains
clear that although human beings have various
(e.g., social psychology, cognitive psychology,
psychosocial resources that are associated with
clinical psychology and social neuroscience).
References
Alford, B. A., & Beck, T. A. (1998). The integrative
power of cognitive therapy. New York, NY: Guilford
Press.
Ayduk, 0., & Kross, E. (2010) From a distance:
stress responses. Neuroimage, 35, 1601-1612.
Kross, E., & Ayduk, O. (2008). Facilitating adaptive
emotional analysis:
outcomes
Short-term and long-term
distinguishing
distanced-analysis
of
Implications of spontaneous self-distancing for
negative emotions from immersed-analysis and
adaptive self-reflection. Journal of Personality and
distraction. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin,
Social Psychology, 98, 809-829.
34, 924-938.
Baumeister, R F., & Leary, M. R (1995). The need to
Leary, M. R, & Baumeister, R F. (2000). The nature
belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a
and function of self-esteem: sociometer theory. In M.
fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin,
P. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology
117, 497-529.
(Vol. 32, pp. 1-62). San Diego: Academic Press.
Downey, G., & Feldman, S. 1. (1996). Implications of
Leary, M. R, Tambor, E. S., Terdal, S. K., & Downs,
rejection sensitivity for intimate relationships.
D. L. (1995). Self-esteem as an interpersonal
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70, 1327-
monitor: The sociometer hypothesis. Journal of
1343.
Personality and Social Psychology, 68, 518-530.
Eisenberger, N. 1., Lieberman, M. D., & Williams, K.
Liberman, N., & Trope, Y. (2008). The psychology of
D. (2003). Does rejection hurt? An fMRI study of
transcending the here and now. Science, 322, 1201-
social exclusion. Science, 302, 290-292.
1205.
Eisenberger, N. 1., Taylor, S. E., Gable, S. L., Hilmert,
Yamagishi, T. (1998). Trust and social intelligence:
C. J., & Lieberman, M. D. (2007). Neural pathways
The evolutionary game of mind and society. (trans.
link social support to attenuated neuroendocrine
T. Yamagishi). Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press.