Differential Responses of Independent and Interdependent People to Social Exclusion

To what extent is a person’s interpersonal network mustered after social exclusion? This was investigated in relation to self-construal: independent, or interdependent. We conducted two quasi-experimental questionnaire studies of university students (Study 1; N = 57, Study 2; N = 78). Results indicated that interdependent students lowered identification with their academic departments after remembering a time when they were socially excluded (Study 1). Their self-worth was also more highly contingent on relational harmony in the whole of their interpersonal networks (Study 2). In contrast, independent students did not exhibit these patterns. These results suggest that social exclusion caused interdependent (not independent) individuals make attempts to secure and value their entire networks, due to the possibility that such specific identification might actually serve to limit possible interpersonal networks (boundary effect). It is concluded that independent and interdependent students evidence dissimilar responses to social exclusion. The implications of this finding are discussed.