The Influence of Trait Self-esteem on Ameliorating Aversive Effects of Social Exclusion: ERP Study Using Cyberball Task

Abstract

The experience of inclusion is known to ameliorate aversive effects of social exclusion. We investigated subjective responses to exclusion (Need-threat, Study 1), as well as attention to signs of exclusion and inclusion (P3b, Study 2). Participants played a Cyberball task consisting of an inclusion session after an exclusion session. Study 1 indicated that the need-threat level was negatively correlated between exclusion and inclusion sessions in the high trait self-esteem (HSE) group, whereas the low trait self-esteem (LSE) group did not show such a relationship. Study 2 suggested that reduction of exclusion impact and P3b amplitude related to signs of inclusion were more closely related in the HSE than in the LSE group. These results suggest amelioration from social exclusion by included experience is affected by trait self-esteem, due to differences in attention allocation.