Social rejection research has largely focused on the consequences of rejection when individuals experience rejection alone. Yet little is known about the reaction of those co-experiencing rejection. We tested the hypothesis that the co-experience of rejection increases cooperation between the co-experiencers. Three experiments provided supporting evidence for the hypothesis. The participants cooperated more when they co-experienced rejection than when they experienced rejection alone. The need to belong mediated the relationship between those co-experiencing rejection and cooperation. These findings shed light on the factors that initiate the formation of small groups, especially deviant ones.
Keywords: co-experience; cooperation; social rejection; the need to belong.
© 2020 The British Psychological Society.