12/12/2023

Why It’s Okay to Say "No" to That Party You’re Dreading

Research indicates the host won't be that offended if you stay home

Do not stress about turning down that holiday party invitation. A new study suggests your host will not care as much as you think.

The research, published Dec. 11 in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, finds people tend to overestimate the negative ramifications of declining social plans, assuming that saying no will upset the person who invited them and damage the relationship. But in a series of experiments, the researchers found that hosts just weren't that bothered when people declined invites—certainly less than their invitees expected.

Some study participants played the role of host, while others played the role of invitee. The inviters were told to imagine they’d asked a friend out for a fun activity, like seeing a museum exhibition or attending a dinner prepared by a celebrity chef, while the invitees were told to imagine they’d turned down the offer because they wanted to relax at home. The researchers asked the invitees how much they expected the “no” RSVP to anger or disappoint their friend, as well as how it would affect their relationship in the future. The inviters were asked the same questions from the opposite perspective.

Please select this link to read the complete article from TIME.