People do not always act as positively as they feel: Evidence of affiliation suppression

Abstract

This research explored the phenomenon of affiliation suppression, in which a subjective experience of attraction is more positive than the behavioral response. In a narrative investigation (Study 1), a laboratory study (Study 2), and an actual/ideal discrepancy task (Study 3), we investigated the prevalence, covariates, and consequences of the suppression of behavior relative to the subjective experience. We identified evidence for several processes, including perceived acceptance, social norms, and shyness, which contributed to the reduction in the behavioral response relative to affective attraction. Furthermore, in Study 3, we identified negative emotional consequences associated with affiliation suppression. We discuss the importance of independently measuring each component of attraction, and we outline how this research provides the parameters necessary to predict when affiliative behavior results relative to affective attraction.