How to deal with rejection
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Rejection hurts. It’s incredibly painful to feel like you’re not wanted — and we do mean painful. Researchers found that we relate rejection to being “hurt,” using terms like “crushed” or “broken-hearted.” So, why does rejection trigger such a strong response, and is there any way to cope with this unique kind of pain? Explore common strategies to help you process this emotional experience.
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Many psychologists interpret the pain of rejection as a link to our evolutionary origins as members of cooperative societies whose survival depended upon strong social bonds (for more information about humans' social evolution, read this article from Science Magazine, or check out this overview of the history of homo sapiens from the Australian Museum). However, none of this scientific understanding lessens the hurt we incur when we are the rejected party. Some people find themselves more sensitive to rejection than others, but studies have found that self-regulation can help individuals manage their hostile and damaging responses to the heightened fear of rejection. For more expert advice on how to move forward after a rejection, read this article from Time Magazine.
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- Director Caitlin McCarthy
- Narrator Jack Cutmore-Scott
- Composer Salil Bhayani, cAMP Studio
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