Impulsive reaction to social distress.

Abstract

Psycho-physiological studies suggest that social rejection leads to social distress and favours impulsivity. We therefore investigated changes in behavioural impulsivity after exposure to social rejection by taking into account impulsive personality traits and changes to affective states. 30 university students were recruited. The Go/No-go task assessed behavioural impulsivity, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale measured impulsive personality traits, and Likert scales measured affective states. A video clip and a writing exercise were used to induce stress. We found that impulsive error responses increased significantly after exposure. Decreased level of excitement and of loneliness were reported after stress. Distress caused by social rejection increased impulsive behaviour, but the degree of this change could not be associated with trait impulsivity, and was reported subjectively.