It’s not personal: the use of deflections in social rejections

= 933), participants imagined themselves as rejectors and as rejectees across multiple contexts (Study 3) and as rejectees in situations with acquaintances or close friends (Study 4). Participants preferred rejections with deflections compared to rejections without, and particularly preferred "nothing personal." The present research addresses the struggle to find the right words for social rejection and opens an avenue for investigation of when and how language may soften the blow.