Inducing and blocking the goal to belong in an experimental setting: goal disengagement research using Cyberball

In the present research, the Cyberball ostracism paradigm was adapted for experimental goal disengagement (GD) research: the goal to belong to a particular group is first induced in participants (via social interaction) and then blocked (via social exclusion) to trigger GD processes. In an online group setting, we experimentally tested the procedure’s suitability to investigate goal disengagement processes. A pilot study demonstrated successful induction of the goal to belong. In the main study (N = 180), exclusion from the group reduced participants’ perceived goal attainability (indicating goal blockage) and desirability (indicating goal disengagement) and their well-being. Regarding the regulatory functions of GD, results were mixed. During work on individual tasks, goal desirability decreased further and well-being was largely restored. However, GD changes were correlated only with changes in negative affect (and not other well-being measures). Findings suggest the procedure’s suitability for studying GD experimentally and employing it to investigate other measures of GD processes and their functionality in more detail.