Given the power of belonging needs to shape individuals’ thoughts, feelings, and behavior, we posited that people’s desire for reconnection even influences judgments of physical distance. We hypothesized that rejection motivates individuals to distance themselves from sources of rejection and draw near those who are accepting. We tested this hypothesis in five studies. Participants recalled someone who had rejected or accepted them previously (Study 1), tossed a ball with inclusive and exclusive confederates (Study 2), and relived a past rejection, acceptance, or failure in the presence of an uninvolved other (Studies 3–5). Participants provided retrospective estimates of distance to rejecting and accepting others (Studies 1–2) and to uninvolved others (Studies 3–5). Participants reported that (1) accepting others were closer than rejecting others and (2) uninvolved others were closer than nonsocial targets after rejection but not acceptance or failure. Findings suggest that individuals distort perceptions of distance to serve belonging needs.
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