Peer victimization but not social anxiety negatively influences predicted enjoyment during peer interactions

We often underestimate how much others enjoy initial interactions with us - a phenomenon known as the liking gap. While widely documented, less research has explored how individual differences such as social anxiety and negative social experiences influence the liking gap. To test this, female and non-binary dyads (N = 23) varying in severity of social anxiety and exposure to peer victimization, completed semi-structured dialogues with strangers. Following the interaction, participants rated their own enjoyment and their assumption of their partner’s enjoyment of the interaction. Consistent with past literature, participants underestimated their partner’s enjoyment. The magnitude of the liking gap was greater for participants with more exposure to peer victimization, but not social anxiety. The relationship with peer victimization was specifically linked to incorrect perceptions about their partner’s enjoyment. This suggests that the liking gap may be susceptible to individual differences in peer victimization, rather than a broader phenotype of social anxiety.