Friends with each other but strangers to you: Source relationship softens ostracism's blow

This study explored how the relationship between sources of ostracism, whether they are friends or strangers to each other, influences the targeted person's reactions to ostracism. Participants interacted with 2 confederates who indicated that they were friends or strangers with each other. Participants were then ostracized or included by the confederates in Cyberball. The results indicated that being ostracized by 2 people who were strangers to each other made participants feel worse than being ostracized by 2 people who were friends with each other. Additionally, participants felt best being included by 2 people who were strangers to each other. These findings may have occurred as a result of differential expectations for inclusion and exclusion from 2 people who are friends, rather than strangers, to each other.