Interpersonal Rejection Sensitivity (IRS)

Interpersonal rejection sensitivity (IRS) is a tendency to anxiously expect, perceive, and react to rejection or criticism. A person with IRS misinterprets neutral cues as negative, leading to overreactions, defensiveness, social withdrawal, or people-pleasing behaviors that create more relational problems. IRS is associated with mood and personality disorders (including bipolar disorder, narcissism, and borderline personality disorder, as well as emotional dysregulation, anger, loneliness, and impaired long-term relationships. It stems from early negative experiences and creates a self-perpetuating cycle, causing significant distress and affecting relationships. Characteristics:

• Anxious expectation of being rejected or criticized. 
• Perceptual bias for easily noticing/over-interpreting subtle cues as signs of rejection. 
• Intense reaction causing significant emotional pain and distress (can feel worse than physical pain). 
• Behavioral responses include avoidance, people-pleasing, defensiveness (reacting with hostility or picking fights), and hyper-vigilance (constantly monitoring others’ moods and behaviors).