Baumeister et al Comment on Zhou PI

Psychological Inquiry, 19: 145–147, 2008CCopyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLCISSN: 1047-840X print / 1532-7965 onlineDOI: 10.1080/10478400802592307COMMENTARIESSocial Rejection Can Reduce Pain and Increase Spending:Further Evidence That Money, Pain, and Belongingness Are InterrelatedRoy F. BaumeisterDepartment of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FloridaC. Nathan DeWallDepartment of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KentuckyNicole L. MeadDepartment of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FloridaKathleen D. VohsMarketing Department, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MinnesotaAtfirstblush,money,pain,andsocialsupportwould evidence that exclusion reduces pain, they cite a sec-seem to be worlds apart. Pain is a fundamental biolog- ondary source referring to an unpublished study byicalfact builtintothebodies of almostallanimals. So- MacDonald, Kingsbury, and Shaw (2005), in whichcialsupport,reflectedinthesubjectiveimpactofsocial apparently some individuals, although not others, ex-acceptance and rejection, is limited to social animals hibited a decrease in sensitivity to pain after being(of which there are many varieties, to be sure) and is a socially rejected.mixtureofbiologicalandsocialfactors.Money,mean- A much more thorough investigation of the effectswhile, is limited to human beings who live in culture. of social exclusion and rejection on pain sensitivity byIt is entirely ...