When Exclusion Feels Unfair: Trait Perceived Injustice as a Vulnerability to Anger and Violence Risk in Youth

Background: Peer exclusion is a common social stressor in emerging adulthood and can provoke strong negative emotional responses. However, individual differences in these responses remain poorly understood. The present study examined whether trait perceived injustice, a stable tendency to interpret experiences as unfair, moderates the effect of social exclusion on anger, a proximal risk factor for reactive aggression. Methods: A total of 131 young adults (mean [M] = 21.22 years, standard deviation [SD] = 2.97; 81.7% women) participated in the Cyberball paradigm and were randomly assigned to either social inclusion or exclusion conditions. Results: Results indicated that trait perceived injustice significantly moderated the effect of exclusion on post-task anger. Individuals with average to high levels of trait perceived injustice exhibited greater anger in response to exclusion, whereas those with low levels did not show a significant effect. Pre-task anger significantly predicted post-task anger. These findings suggest that sensitivity to unfairness amplifies emotional reactivity to social exclusion. Conclusions: Implications are discussed in terms of identifying youth at risk for negative affective responses and targeting fairness appraisals and anger regulation in preventive interventions.