Rejection sensitivity, aggression and self-confidence in the friendzone and other opposite sex relationships among young adults in India

Abstract

People are said to be put into the friendzone when they are attracted to and want to pursue a romantic relationship with a friend but this friend only wants a platonic relationship. The objective of the present study was to determine the relationship between rejection sensitivity, aggression and self-confidence for participants in different types of opposite sex relationships, viz., single; in a romantic relationship; or in the friendzone. It also aimed to discover whether any significant difference existed between gender and opposite sex relationship groups for the three dependent variables. A non-probability purposive sampling technique was employed to select a sample of 180 undergraduate students, between 18-24 years, out of whom 60 were placed in each category of relationship. The Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire, Buss Perry Aggression Questionnaire and two sub-scales of the Personal Evaluation Inventory were used. Gender differences were found in levels of aggression and self-confidence. Participants in romantic relationships displayed significantly higher romantic self-confidence than people in the friendzone and single participants. Participants in the friendzone showed significantly higher rejection sensitivity than those in romantic relationships. Aggression displayed a significant negative relationship with either dimension of self-confidence for all three relationships. Rejection sensitivity showed significant positive relationship with anger for single participants. With certain acts of aggression becoming commonplace across the world, this study aims to rationalize them as adverse responses to perceived romantic rejection and low self-confidence based on the opposite sex relationships young adults share.