It goes without saying that practically no one enjoys being on the receiving end of a social snub, even if it's something as relatively mild as a look of disapproval from a peer or authority figure. But a series of experiments performed at UCLA — the results of which were published in the August 2, 2010 edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences — demonstrated that the effects of social rejection may be more serious and far-reaching than previously realized. Rejection, in fact, may lead directly to physical illness in many individuals.
Experiments in Rejection
UCLA researchers gathered 124 volunteers for a series of three experiments intended to measure the effect social rejection would have on the brain and body. In the first experiment, subjects were asked to give a speech to a panel of sour-looking people in lab coats, who did not speak to the subjects but conveyed their disapproval through facial expressions and body language.
Subjects in the second experiment were told to count backwards from 2,935 by 7's, and then by 13's. While performing this difficult task, subjects were prodded to go faster by the experimenters, and forced to start over if they made a mistake. Finally, the third experiment had subjects playing a virtual game of catch with two other "volunteers" (actually computer-generated players) who deliberately withheld the ball and excluded the subjects from the game.
Measuring the Effects of Social Snubs
In order to quantify the physical effects the experiments were having on the subjects, researchers took saliva samples both before and after the sessions, to assess the differences between stressed and non-stressed subjects. In addition, volunteers participating in the "virtual catch" experiment underwent fMRI scans while performing the task, so that brain changes could be monitored in real time.
Stressful Rejection Caused Immune Response
The results from the fMRI scans showed heightened activity in both the dorsal anterior cingulated cortex and the anterior insula. These specific brain areas are linked to the body's immune response; activity there leads to an increase in inflammation in the body. The saliva samples taken from the subjects likewise showed the presence of two proteins associated with inflammation.
While inflammation evolved as the body's useful response for fighting off illness and infection, chronic inflammation has been linked to serious long-term disorders including depression, asthma, and cardiovascular disease.
Inflammatory Response Varies By Person
The researchers pointed out that as with any other complex human phenomenon, the severity of the inflammation caused by social rejection varies from person to person, with some able to withstand more rejection, and others less. Humans are, after all, social animals, and it is perhaps not surprising that for many people, perceived rejection in the social sphere leads directly to stress, depression, and serious illness.
Sources:
Rettner, Rachael. "Social Snubs May Be Seriously Sickening ". LiveScience. August 3, 2010
Slavich, George M. et al. "Neural sensitivity to social rejection is associated with inflammatory responses to social stress". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. August 3, 2010
Jenny Ashford - Jenny Ashford is a writer and graphic artist from central Florida. Her main area of interest in her Suite 101 articles is science, with a ...
Join the Conversation