Perceptions of and by lonely people in initial social interaction

The Social Relations Model was wed to examine the relationship between loneliness and interpersonal perception in initial social interactions. Unacquainted students interacted in groups of four same-gender members. Following the interaction, all group members rated themselves and others on 10 personal characteristics, such as physical attractiveness, social skills, and anxiety. Members also judged how they thought other group members saw them on the same 10 variables (metaperceptions). Results indicated that lonelier people viewed others somewhat more positively, themselves more negatively, and thought others viewed them more negatively. Lonelier people, however; were generally not seen differentially by others, except they were seen as friendlier.