Undergraduate Research & Scholarships

A. Nicholas Santascoy Social Science

Rejection Sensitivity and Gratitude

Research on rejection sensitivity, the anxious expectation of and hostility to perceived rejection, has focused on mapping its possible causes and negative consequences. Positive emotion research, though, has revealed gratitude’s tendency to foster positive affect and pro-social behavior. Nicholas plans to examine the efficacy of gratitude in reducing negative aspects of rejection sensitivity while increasing positive emotions and behaviors within close relationships. In study 1, high rejection sensitive people will daily express gratitude in writing for the behavior of loved ones for two weeks. In study 2, high rejection sensitive people will be tested to see if gratitude reduces rejection-primed anxiety.

Profile image of A. Nicholas Santascoy
Major: Psychology
Mentor: Mentor: Professor Ozlem Ayduk, Psychology
Back to Listings