rejection sensitivity

Expecting rejection can color ambiguous replies

Proposed in research

An experiment with undergraduates in a study of relationships found that people who anxiously expected rejection more readily interpreted ambiguous behavior as intentional rejection(Downey & Feldman, 1996).

Fear can prompt an early exit

Proposed in research

In an interview study, five undergraduates diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) described avoiding possible rejection. Some reduced contact with friends or family, passed up job opportunities, or reported Procrastination or not submitting assignments. Sometimes the distress came from waiting for rejection, before it had happened(Rowney-Smith et al., 2026).

These accounts draw attention to withdrawing early: avoiding possible criticism can cost someone contact or a chance to try.

ADHD findings are mixed

Proposed in research

A survey of adolescents aged 10–19 found higher self-reported anxious and angry rejection sensitivity among those with ADHD symptoms. Another study comparing male undergraduates diagnosed with ADHD against a control group found no higher rejection sensitivity in the ADHD group(Bondü & Esser, 2014; Canu & Carlson, 2007).

An ADHD diagnosis alone does not establish how much someone fears rejection. Having no such experience does not contradict their having ADHD.

RSD needs its own evidence

Proposed in research

Rejection sensitivity has been studied in psychology. The popular online term rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) describes intense distress around rejection; evidence for the two concepts should not be treated as interchangeable(Downey & Feldman, 1996; van, 2026).

Van Asselt’s critical review found limited empirical evidence for RSD and recommended the established rejection sensitivity concept in professional communication. Relating to RSD does not confirm a validated diagnosis in its own right. Describing triggers, reactions and effects on daily life communicates more than the label alone(van, 2026).