When virtual contact is all you need: The influence of Facebook on responses to social exclusion

Facebook等社交网络已经开始改变社会生活，部分原因是它们满足了用户的归属感。在这个项目中，我们计划研究Facebook何时以及如何影响对社会排斥的反应。在我们的研究中，我们开发了一种实验设计，通过微妙的、外围的Facebook图标(与不同的、但可比较的图标)来激活(主要的)关于Facebook的想法。我们考察了这种激活对社会排斥反应的影响。在我们之前的研究中，控制条件下的参与者对进一步的社会接触表现出更大的兴趣(对重新加入的兴趣)，并且在经历了排斥之后对归属感的需求更高(与融入相比)。然而，在用Facebook图标微妙地启动后，这种补偿反应得到了相当大的缓解。该项目的目标是探索影响的范围(目标1)并阐明基本过程(目标2)。为了实现目标1，我们将首先检验Facebook启动的缓解效果是否也发生在现实生活中的排斥体验中(与之前研究中的虚拟排斥相反，实验1)。然后，我们将调查在启动一个代表社交信使服务(WhatsApp)和职业社交网络(LinkedIn)的图标后，这种影响是否会发生，以及这种影响是否会延伸到另一种典型的排斥反应，即攻击性(实验2)。在实验3中，我们将考察对强(弱)排斥的反应是否通过提醒强(弱)联系在更大程度上得到缓解。在剩下的研究中，我们将重点放在基本过程上(目标2)。Facebook图标的呈现可能会激活Facebook上现有社交联系人的想法，这有助于恢复受到威胁的归属感(过程1)。使用Facebook联系朋友的前景也有可能通过Facebook图标的呈现而变得突出，这可能已经减轻了归属感的需要(流程2)。这两个过程将在实验4中测量，并在实验5和6中分别操作，同时保持另一个过程恒定。将测量和操纵的结果联系起来(因果链设计)将使我们能够检验Facebook的启动效应是否由这些过程调节。在所有研究中，我们测试个体差异变量(水平集体主义取向、Facebook使用类型、Facebook体验的有效性)的调节作用。该项目除了具有基本的科学价值外，还具有很大的实用价值。了解Facebook及其无处不在的图标(蓝色的“f”)对社会认知、动机和社会行为的影响，可以为公共政策提供信息，并推动对社交在线网络的关键使用。与记者一起举办的讲习班和小组讨论会将有助于将科学发现和影响传播到公共领域。

Social online networks such as Facebook have begun to transform social life, partly because they fulfill the users' need to belong. In this project, we plan to examine when and how Facebook affects responses to social exclusion. In our research, we have developed an experimental design to activate ("prime") thoughts about Facebook by the subtle, peripheral presentation of a Facebook icon (vs. a different, but comparable icon). We examine the effect of this activation on responses to social exclusion. In our previous studies, participants in the control condition showed more interest in further social contact (interest in reaffiliation) and a higher need to belong after experiencing exclusion (vs. inclusion). However, this compensatory reaction was considerably mitigated after subtle priming with the Facebook icon. The goal of the project is to explore the scope of the effect (Goal 1) and illuminate the underlying processes (Goal 2). To achieve Goal 1 we will first examine whether the mitigating effects of Facebook priming also occur with a real-life exclusion experience (in contrast to virtual exclusion in previous studies, Experiment 1). We will then investigate whether the effect occurs after priming with an icon representing a social messenger service (WhatsApp) and a professional network (LinkedIn), and whether the effect extends to another typical response to exclusion, i.e. aggression (Experiment 2). In Experiment 3, we will examine whether responses to strong (vs. weak) exclusion are mitigated to a greater extent by reminders of strong (vs. weak) ties. In the remaining studies we will focus on the underlying processes (Goal 2). The presentation of a Facebook icon may activate thoughts of existing social contacts on Facebook, which facilitate the restoration of the threatened need to belong (Process 1). It is also possible that the prospect of using Facebook to contact friends is made salient by the presentation of the Facebook icon, which may already alleviate the need to belong (Process 2). Both processes will be measured in Experiment 4 and separately manipulated in Experiments 5 and 6, while keeping the other process constant. Linking the results from measurement and manipulation (causal-chain design) will allow us to examine whether the Facebook priming effects are mediated by these processes. In all studies, we test the moderating role of individual-difference variables (horizontal collectivistic orientation, type of Facebook use, the valence of Facebook experiences). In addition to its basic scientific value the project is of great practical relevance. Understanding the effects of Facebook and its omnipresent icon (the blue "f") on social cognition, motivation, and social behavior can inform public policy and advance a critical use of social online networks. A workshop with journalists and a panel discussion will help disseminate the scientific findings and implications into the public sphere.