Abstract as per original application
(English/Chinese): |
Zero-sum beliefs refer to the subjective perception that the sum of all the gains and losses of the involved parties in a situation equals zero, wherein one party’s gain inherently offsets another party’s loss. These beliefs are prevalent across contexts, including economic exchanges, workplace dynamics, political negotiations, and daily encounters. Strong zero-sum beliefs often predict undesirable outcomes, such as increased conflicts, decreased relationship satisfaction, and impaired psychological well-being. The profound influence of zero-sum beliefs has aroused strong interest among researchers in understanding the formation of these beliefs. Recent studies have demonstrated how dispositional and situational factors influence zero-sum beliefs. However, it remains unclear whether interpersonal factors may also promote such beliefs. In this research, we examine whether ostracism, a common interpersonal experience in daily life, increases zero-sum beliefs and test the underlying psychological mechanism. We also investigate whether post-ostracism increases in zero-sum beliefs predict unethical behavior and test whether situational interventions weaken the effects of ostracism on zero-sum beliefs and unethical behavior.
Ostracism occurs when individuals are excluded and ignored. When individuals are ostracized by others, they may perceive higher stress because they cannot obtain the benefits of positive interpersonal relationships. In such a stressful state, ostracized individuals may mistrust others and perceive resources as scarce, competitive, and zero-sum because doing so provides a simplistic way to navigate complex situations with minimal cognitive effort. Therefore, we predict that ostracism increases zero-sum beliefs through perceived stress. We also examine whether post-ostracism increases in zero-sum beliefs motivate individuals to behave unethically. Zero-sum beliefs entail that one’s and others’ interests are completely opposed, which may motivate ostracized individuals to acquire benefits even at the expense of others. Therefore, we predict that ostracism increases unethical behavior through zero-sum beliefs. When the zero-sum beliefs of ostracized individuals are weakened through awe interventions, their unethical behavior may also be weakened.
By adopting a multimethod approach, we examine the effect of ostracism on zero-sum beliefs, reveal the psychological mechanism and behavioral consequence, and identify methods to weaken the relationships among ostracism, zero-sum beliefs, and unethical behavior. As these phenomena are prevalent in daily interactions, it is crucial to test their interrelationships. A comprehensive investigation of the relationships among ostracism, zero-sum beliefs, and unethical behavior can advance existing knowledge and theories. It also facilitates the development of intervention strategies to overcome their negative outcomes and promotes harmonious and cooperative social environments.
零和信念是一種主觀感知，指在特定情境下，所有參與者的得失總和為零，也就是說，一方的得益必然等同於另一方的損失。這種信念廣泛存在於各種社會情境中，包括經濟交易、職場互動、政治談判、以及日常社交。強烈的零和信念往往可以預測負面後果，例如衝突加劇、人際關係滿意度下降以及心理健康受損。由於零和信念對個人與社會具有深遠的影響，研究人員對其形成機制產生了極大的興趣。近期的研究顯示，性格特質和環境因素會影響零和信念的形成，但目前尚不清楚人際關係是否也會促進這種信念的產生。本研究旨在探討日常生活中常見的社會排斥現象是否會增強零和信念，並分析其背後的心理機制。我們還會研究社會排斥後零和信念的增強是否能預測不道德行為的發生，並測試干預措施是否能減弱社會排斥對零和信念和不道德行為的影響。社會排斥是指被他人拒絕和忽視。當人們經歷社會排斥時，可能會感受到更大的壓力，因為他們無法從積極和諧的人際關係中獲取益處。在這種壓力下，被排斥者可能會變得不信任他人，並將資源視為稀缺且具有競爭性的，從而產生零和博弈的思維模式。這種認知傾向有助於被排斥者以較低的認知負擔應對複雜的情境。因此，我們預計社會排斥會透過感知壓力的增加來提升零和信念。我們還會進一步地探討由社會排斥引發的零和信念會否促使被排斥者採取不道德的方法來獲取利益。零和信念意味著個人利益與他人利益完全對立，這可能會導致被排斥者為了自身利益而犧牲他人。因此，我們預計社會排斥會透過增強零和信念來促使人們進行不道德行為。當被排斥後所產生的零和信念被提升敬畏感的干預措施削弱時，被排斥者的不道德行為應會相應減少。我們將採用多種研究方法，系統性地探討社會排斥對零和信念的影響，揭示其心理機制和行為後果，並探索有效的干預措施，以減弱社會排斥、零和信念與不道德行為之間的關係。由於這些現象在日常生活中非常常見，深入理解它們之間的關係至關重要，對理論發展和實際應用均具有重要意義。全面研究社會排斥、零和信念與不道德行為之間的關係，將推進現有的知識和理論，並有助於制定有效的干預措施，以減輕其負面影響，並且促進更和諧、更具合作性的社會環境。
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