Rejection sensitivity - meaning and definition
Alsorejection-sensitiverejection sensitive dysphoriaRSDfear of rejection
Definition
Rejection sensitivity is a tendency to anxiously expect, quickly notice and strongly react to signs of rejection from other people.
At a glance
- Rejection sensitivity is a tendency to anxiously expect, quickly notice and strongly react to rejection.
- Ambiguous signals, such as a short text or cancelled plan, may be read as being unwanted.
- Geraldine Downey and Scott Feldman described the concept in the 1990s.
- Rejection sensitive dysphoria is a popular, not an official, diagnostic label often linked to ADHD.
In detail
Psychologists Geraldine Downey and Scott Feldman described rejection sensitivity in the 1990s. People high in it may read ambiguous signals, such as a short text or a cancelled plan, as evidence of being unwanted, and respond with hurt, anger or withdrawal.
In dating, where rejection is common and often unexplained, rejection sensitivity can make the process feel especially painful. The term is sometimes linked online to ADHD as rejection sensitive dysphoria, which is a popular rather than an official diagnostic label. Self-compassion and supportive relationships can soften the pattern.
In a sentence
- With my rejection sensitivity, a one-word reply can ruin my evening.
- Dating apps are hard when you're rejection sensitive, because people disappear without explanation.
Where the word comes from
Psychologists Geraldine Downey and Scott Feldman described rejection sensitivity in a 1996 study on its effects in close relationships.
Common questions
Is rejection sensitive dysphoria a real diagnosis?
It is a popular term, often discussed in relation to ADHD, but it is not an official diagnosis in the DSM or ICD. Rejection sensitivity itself is a well-studied psychological concept. A mental health professional can help someone explore what they experience.