Social Sensitivity and Conceptions of Grace
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Graduate
Major
General Experimental Psychology
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Jana Hackathorn, PhD
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
In the literature, rejection sensitivity has been linked to various negative mental health outcomes (Gao et al., 2017). Heightened feelings of depression, anxiety, and loneliness to name a few, rejection sensitive individuals appear to suffer psychologically as a result of their tendency to worry about and anticipate social rejection (Feldman and Downey, 1996).
Religiosity has also shown to greatly influence mental health, often in a positive direction (Garssen, Visser, & Pool, 2021). However, in religions such as Christianity, which emphasize personal relationships with God as a major component of faith, it has been observed that how an individual perceives their relationship with God can vary this outcome–for example, Positive conceptions of God and secure attachment to Him can result in improved well-being and a more positive self-concept, while negative conceptions of God and insecure attachment can result in heightened distress and a more negative self-concept (Stulp et al., 2019).
Individuals who are rejection sensitive tend to be so in a variety of social contexts. It stands to reason then that individuals who are highly rejection sensitive may also be more sensitive to perceived rejection from God. One way this may manifest is in scrupulosity, also known as a fear or anxiety about doing wrong often observed in individuals with OCD (Abramowitz et al., 2002). Because God, particularly in Christianity, is often viewed as being opposed to certain sins, it is possible that rejection sensitive individuals may develop an anxiety around doing wrong, as they believe that God will reject them for it.
Due to the lapse in research on this subject, we believe this to be a beneficial topic for exploration. As previously mentioned, there are many negative outcomes associated with rejection sensitivity, just as there are many positive outcomes associated with religiosity. While the positive associations with religiosity might help mitigate some of the negative outcomes of rejection sensitivity, it is also possible that the effects of rejection sensitivity might hinder an individual from receiving the benefits of their faith. As such, the present study aims to explore this topic in a Christian sample of participants. Specifically, we are interested in analyzing the relationship between rejection sensitivity and how this influences the perceived relationship between the individual and God when taking into consideration other possible influences related to the individual’s faith.
Spring Scholars Week 2026
Psychology: Completed Projects
Social Sensitivity and Conceptions of Grace
In the literature, rejection sensitivity has been linked to various negative mental health outcomes (Gao et al., 2017). Heightened feelings of depression, anxiety, and loneliness to name a few, rejection sensitive individuals appear to suffer psychologically as a result of their tendency to worry about and anticipate social rejection (Feldman and Downey, 1996).
Religiosity has also shown to greatly influence mental health, often in a positive direction (Garssen, Visser, & Pool, 2021). However, in religions such as Christianity, which emphasize personal relationships with God as a major component of faith, it has been observed that how an individual perceives their relationship with God can vary this outcome–for example, Positive conceptions of God and secure attachment to Him can result in improved well-being and a more positive self-concept, while negative conceptions of God and insecure attachment can result in heightened distress and a more negative self-concept (Stulp et al., 2019).
Individuals who are rejection sensitive tend to be so in a variety of social contexts. It stands to reason then that individuals who are highly rejection sensitive may also be more sensitive to perceived rejection from God. One way this may manifest is in scrupulosity, also known as a fear or anxiety about doing wrong often observed in individuals with OCD (Abramowitz et al., 2002). Because God, particularly in Christianity, is often viewed as being opposed to certain sins, it is possible that rejection sensitive individuals may develop an anxiety around doing wrong, as they believe that God will reject them for it.
Due to the lapse in research on this subject, we believe this to be a beneficial topic for exploration. As previously mentioned, there are many negative outcomes associated with rejection sensitivity, just as there are many positive outcomes associated with religiosity. While the positive associations with religiosity might help mitigate some of the negative outcomes of rejection sensitivity, it is also possible that the effects of rejection sensitivity might hinder an individual from receiving the benefits of their faith. As such, the present study aims to explore this topic in a Christian sample of participants. Specifically, we are interested in analyzing the relationship between rejection sensitivity and how this influences the perceived relationship between the individual and God when taking into consideration other possible influences related to the individual’s faith.