Marketing & Communications
Division of University Relations and Development
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Contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Soured Relationships Lead to Sweet Tooth SAN DIEGO, Monday, September 23, 2002 - A
new San Diego State University study published in the September
issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology validates
why chocolate tastes so good after a breakup, and why that unaffordable
pair of shoes in the store window seems like a good buy to someone
just after that person has been dumped. SDSU Psychology Professor Jean M. Twenge
and her colleagues found that people who feel as if they have been
rejected by others tend to adopt unhealthy, self-defeating behaviors,
such as eating junk foods, taking unnecessary risks and disregarding
responsibilities to have fun. This pattern of behavior seems specific to
people who feel socially rejected, Twenge said, since those who
felt in fear of future bodily harm did not act in a similar manner.
"The need to belong and have close relationships
is a fundamental human motivation," Twenge said. "When
we feel alone or not connected to other people, that's not a normal
state of being, and that's why people adopt unhealthy behaviors." Twenge said that feeling lonely may cause
people to think in the "here and now" rather than the
long-term, choosing short-term pleasures in spite of the serious
long-term risks. "In the aftermath of a breakup, people
avoid working out at the gym, dieting, and saving money for the
future," Twenge said. "Rather, you're going to sit on
the couch, eat ice cream, and try to find a movie that's not romantic." Twenge and her colleagues discovered the
link between rejection and behavior through a series of experiments
featuring undergraduate students. The study compared the reactions
of students who were told that, based on personality tests, they
were either likely to end up alone, be constantly surrounded by
friends and loved ones, or live a life full of accidents. In one set of experiments, people who were
told they would be alone were the most likely to opt for a high-risk
lottery over one that promised less money but a higher chance of
winning. In another experiment, people who expected a life alone
were the most likely to exhibit unhealthy behaviors, such as eating
unhealthy snacks, reading magazines instead of learning about their
health, and opting out of exercise. Compared with people who thought they would
end up surrounded by friends, people told they would live their
lives alone spent less time practicing for a test they thought they
had to take, opting instead to play video games or read magazines. Twenge said people who expected social rejection
did not feel different emotions, despite their different behaviors.
As part of the experiments, she and her team of researchers measured
participants' moods, and they found that there were no differences
between the groups. This result was surprising, Twenge said, because
she and her colleagues had suspected that rejected people might
do pleasurable things to try to make themselves feel better. San Diego State University is the oldest
and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region.
Founded in 1897, SDSU has grown to offer bachelor's degrees in 78
areas, master's degrees in 62 areas and doctorates in 14. SDSU's
more than 33,000 students participate in academic curricula distinguished
by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis
that prepares them for a global future. For more information log
on to www.sdsu.edu. ### |
