Overgeneralizing Belonging: Limited Exposure To Baby-Faced Targets Increases the Feeling of Social Belonging

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-4-2014

School

Psychology

Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that exposure to babyish faces can serve a social surrogacy function, such that even limited exposure to babyish faces can fulfill social belongingness needs. We manipulated the sex and facial maturity of a target face seen in an imagined social interaction, on a between-participants basis. Regardless of target sex, individuals indicated greater satisfaction of social belongingness needs following an imagined interaction with a babyish face, compared to a mature adult face. These results indicate that brief exposure to babyish (relative to mature) faces, even without an extensive interaction, can lead to the satisfaction of social belongingness needs. © Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Publication Title

Journal of Social Psychology

Volume

154

Issue

4

First Page

273

Last Page

277

Link to Full Text

Find in your library

Share

COinS