The Language of Social Rejection: How Deflections May Soften the Blow for Rejectors and Rejectees

Poster Session II

Keyword: Communication

Abstract: What language should people use to soften the blow of a social rejection? Across three studies (N1 = 497; N2 = 94; N3 = 1213), deflections (e.g., “nothing personal”) were commonly used, preferred over rejections without deflections, and helped both the rejector and rejectee feel better about the rejection.

• Gili Freedman (Author)
• Shannon Lutz (Presenting Author)
• Drew Sonnenberg (Author)
• Sydney Okland (Author)
• Jennifer Beer (Author)