Previous studies indicated that the onsets of different social threats, such as threats to ”belonging” and “control”, are inconsistent with the subjective beliefs of social participation and require readjustment of expectations. Because a common cognitive system is assumed to be involved, the adjustment triggered by the experience of a single social threat should affect the processing of subsequent social interactions. We examined how preexposure to a loss of control affected social exclusion processing by using the Cyberball paradigm. An event-related brain component (P3) served as a probe for the state of the expectancy system, and self-reports reflected the subjective evaluations of the social threats. In the control group (n = 23), the transition to exclusion elicited a significant P3 effect and a high threat to belonging in the self-reports. Both effects were significantly reduced when the exclusion was preceded by preexposure to a loss of control (EG1disc, n = 23). These effects, however, depend on the offset of the preexposure. In case of a continuation (EG2cont, n = 24), the P3 effect was further reduced, but the threat to belonging was restored. We conclude that the P3 data are consistent with predictions of a common expectancy violation account, whereas self-reports are supposed to be affected by additional processes.

Experiencing a social threat, such as social exclusion, is a painful event. In contrast to previous studies providing insight into the processing of a single short-termed threat, we exposed healthy individuals to the simultaneous onset of different social threats. This approach allowed us to track whether these threats are processed independently—or whether they interact in a common system. Using a virtual ball-throwing game (Cyberball), electrophysiological (event-related brain potentials, ERPs) and behavioral (self-reports) responses were collected. We assigned undergraduates to three experimental groups: single threat exclusion (n = 24), single threat loss of control (n = 26), and joint onset of both threats (dual-threat, n = 25). Self-reports indicated an increase in threats (i.e., in perceived exclusion and loss-of-control) in the latter group. The ERPs disentangled the neural responses to each threat: In the dual-threat group, the amplitudes of the P3 responses to exclusionary and intervention events were enhanced. This indicates that individuals are sensitized to each of the threats when the other threat is present simultaneously. Our findings support the theoretical notion of a common cognitive system responding to violations in subjective expectations.

Eye gaze is a crucial nonverbal cue that plays an important role in modulating social interaction. Despite its importance, research on the effect of gaze direction on the processing of social exclusion is restricted. The current study aimed to address this gap by investigating the effect of gaze direction using a Cyberball game that stimulates social exclusion. In addition to self-reports provided in a standardized questionnaire, the processing of exclusionary signals was monitored by recording ERPs. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: one received direct gazes from their co-players, while the other received averted gazes toward their avatar. Our results showed that participants who received averted gazes reported stronger negative feelings of exclusion and had a smaller P300 effect in response to the transition from inclusion-to-exclusion, The P300 effect supports the idea that social exclusion is a violation of the subjective expectations of participation, and that direct eye gaze leads to an increased sensitivity to this process. The self-report, on the other hand, reflects the supportive role of eye gaze in modulating affective evaluation. These findings highlight the impact of gaze direction on the processing of social exclusion and underscore the importance of considering both cognitive and affective responses.