from Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Have you ever accepted an invitation to an event you would rather not attend? Turns out, you’re not alone. More than three-quarters of those responding to a survey said they had gone to such an event because they were concerned about the consequences of declining the invitation. The research, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology shows negative ramifications of saying no are much less severe than we expect. In one study, a group was asked to imagine declining a dinner invitation from a friend. Others were asked to imagine having their invitation rejected. Authors found people tend to exaggerate the feelings of the person whose invitation was rejected. Something to keep in mind during this busy holiday party season.