Emotional reactions to threats to acceptance and belonging: a retrospective look at the big picture

Looking back at more than 40 years of the author’s work on social emotions reveals that emotional reactions as diverse as hurt feelings, loneliness, social anxiety, jealousy, guilt, embarrassment, and, often, sadness are linked to people’s concerns with acceptance and belonging. This article examines the nature and function of these emotions, describes previously unpublished research findings, examines the central role of relational value in...