Is the Social Glass Half Full or Empty? Ambiguous Feedback Probes Individual Differences in Social Motivation

Social interactions are often ambiguous, involving mixed signals of acceptance (e.g., smile, nod) and rejection (e.g., frown, averted gaze). We examined individual differences in responses to social ambiguity using a social media paradigm. Participants demonstrated significant variability in social motivation following ambiguous feedback, associated with markers of social impairment.