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Effects of Social Exclusion on Cognitive Processes: Anticipated Aloneness Reduces Intelligent Thought

Three studies examined the effects of randomly assigned messages of social exclusion. In all 3 studies, significant and large decrements in intelligent thought (including IQ and Graduate Record Examination test performance) were found among people told they were likely to end up alone in life. The d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of personality and social psychology 2002-10, Vol.83 (4), p.817-827
Main Authors: Baumeister, Roy F, Twenge, Jean M, Nuss, Christopher K
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Three studies examined the effects of randomly assigned messages of social exclusion. In all 3 studies, significant and large decrements in intelligent thought (including IQ and Graduate Record Examination test performance) were found among people told they were likely to end up alone in life. The decline in cognitive performance was found in complex cognitive tasks such as effortful logic and reasoning; simple information processing remained intact despite the social exclusion. The effects were specific to social exclusion, as participants who received predictions of future nonsocial misfortunes (accidents and injuries) performed well on the cognitive tests. The cognitive impairments appeared to involve reductions in both speed (effort) and accuracy. The effect was not mediated by mood.
ISSN:0022-3514
1939-1315
DOI:10.1037/0022-3514.83.4.817