Similarity reduces blame: Consequences of observer-target similarity in social exclusion situations

Who is blamed for social exclusion often depends on how justified observers perceive the exclusion. Here we hypothesize that observers’ own similarity to the excluded person powerfully colors these perceptions. In particular, two studies ( N = 496) examine whether observers blame a socially excluded person less if they perceive themselves as similar to that person. Study 1 uses a correlation design and shows that the more similar individuals feel to a person who is later excluded, the less they blame that person. In line with defensive attribution theory, this association is mediated by observers’ perceived vulnerability to end up in a similar situation. Study 2 experimentally tests the similarity-blaming link, showing that observers blame a similar target less than a dissimilar target. This link is fully mediated by greater compassion and liking for a similar target, which aligns with research on the similarity-attraction effect and social identity theory. Overall, the present findings indicate that similarity in behavioral tendencies and similarity in personal characteristics can influence how justified social exclusion is perceived, and that both affect observers’ attributions of blame. This is relevant as it highlights how (dis)similarity influences social judgements and may decrease support for dissimilar others following social exclusion.