Research article
Ostracism, resources, and the perception of human motion
Jamie L. Gorman,
Kent D. Harber,
Maggie Shiffrar,
Karen S. Quigley,
Corresponding Author
Jamie L. Gorman
Rutgers University at Newark, Newark, New Jersey, USA
Correspondence
Jamie L. Gorman, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University at Newark, Smith Hall, 101Warren Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102, USA.
E-mail: [email protected]
Kent D. Harber, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University at Newark, Smith Hall, 101 Warren Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102, USA.
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Kent D. Harber
Rutgers University at Newark, Newark, New Jersey, USA
Correspondence
Jamie L. Gorman, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University at Newark, Smith Hall, 101Warren Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102, USA.
E-mail: [email protected]
Kent D. Harber, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University at Newark, Smith Hall, 101 Warren Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102, USA.
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorMaggie Shiffrar
California State University, Northridge, California, USA
Search for more papers by this authorKaren S. Quigley
Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial VA Hospital, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA
Search for more papers by this author
Jamie L. Gorman,
Kent D. Harber,
Maggie Shiffrar,
Karen S. Quigley,
Corresponding Author
Jamie L. Gorman
Rutgers University at Newark, Newark, New Jersey, USA
Correspondence
Jamie L. Gorman, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University at Newark, Smith Hall, 101Warren Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102, USA.
E-mail: [email protected]
Kent D. Harber, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University at Newark, Smith Hall, 101 Warren Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102, USA.
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Kent D. Harber
Rutgers University at Newark, Newark, New Jersey, USA
Correspondence
Jamie L. Gorman, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University at Newark, Smith Hall, 101Warren Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102, USA.
E-mail: [email protected]
Kent D. Harber, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University at Newark, Smith Hall, 101 Warren Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102, USA.
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorMaggie Shiffrar
California State University, Northridge, California, USA
Search for more papers by this authorKaren S. Quigley
Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial VA Hospital, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Is perception of human motion affected by psychosocial resources? According to the Resources and Perception Model, perception is jointly affected by subjective threat and psychosocial resources that buffer threat. Two experiments tested whether social threat (i.e., ostracism) and psychosocial resources affect perception of human motion. Observers attempted to identify human movement in ambiguous point-light displays after being ostracized or not ostracized. Additionally, trait resources (self-esteem plus social support) were measured (Studies 1 and 2), and self-affirmation was manipulated (Study 2). Study 1 showed that ostracism reduced sensitivity for detecting human motion but not among people with ample trait resources. Study 2 replicated this ostracism-by-trait resources interaction. It also showed that self-affirmation improved human motion perception for all included participants but only benefited ostracized participants with ample trait resources. These studies show that a basic visual skill—detecting human motion—is jointly affected by social threats and psychosocial resources.
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