title: How children's victimization relates to distorted versus sensitive social cognition: Perception, mood, and need fulfillment in response to Cyberball inclusion and exclusion.
abstract: This study examined whether victimization is associated with negatively distorted social cognition (bias), or with a specific increased sensitivity to social negative cues, by assessing the perception of social exclusion and the consequences for psychological well-being (moods and fundamental needs). Both self-reported and peer-reported victimization of 564 participants (Mage=9.9years, SD=1.04; 49.1% girls) were measured, and social exclusion was manipulated through inclusion versus exclusion in a virtual ball-tossing game (Cyberball). Children's perceptions and psychological well-being were in general more negative after exclusion than after inclusion. Moreover, self-reported-but not peer-reported-victimization was associated with the perception of being excluded more and receiving the ball less, as well as more negative moods and less fulfillment of fundamental needs, regardless of being excluded or included during the Cyberball game. In contrast, peer-reported victimization was associated with more negative mood and lower need fulfillment in the exclusion condition only. Together, these results suggest that children who themselves indicate being victimized have negatively distorted social cognition, whereas children who are being victimized according to their peers experience increased sensitivity to negative social situations. The results stress the importance of distinguishing between self-reported and peer-reported victimization and have implications for interventions aimed at victimized children's social cognition.
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, 6525 HR Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: t.lansu@psych.ru.nl.
authors.forename: Tessa A M
authors.initials: TAM
authors.lastname: Lansu
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, 6525 HR Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tirza H J
authors.initials: THJ
authors.lastname: van Noorden
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marike H F
authors.initials: MHF
authors.lastname: Deutz
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D058445:Bullying; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D010465:Perception; D057566:Self Report; D012919:Social Behavior; D012934:Social Isolation; D018910:Video Games
keywords: Cyberball; Fundamental needs; Hostile bias; Mood; Social cognition; Victimization