ArticleBMC psychology2026
Shared enemies as prosocial tool: how to infer positive relationships from negative relationships in social networks.
Article in BMC psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundSocial relationships are shaped by a complex interplay of interests and emotions, making negative interactions inevitable. Research on negative bias and loss aversion demonstrates that people are more sensitive to negative interactions, which often leads to social distancing. However, one study found that individuals with anxious attachment styles may actively seek partners who treat them poorly, suggesting that such relationships can strengthen bonds. But the cognitive mechanisms underlying how negative relationships can signal positive relational outcomes remain unclear. Through five experiments, we examine how shared negative relationships help individuals infer positive relationships and explore the underlying mechanisms.
methodsWe conducted five pre-registered experiments (N = 1,085; M
resultsOur results showed that humans can (a) infer positive relationships from shared negative ones and their quantity; (b) adjust these inferences by group size and contextual boundaries-shifting from resource-based inferring in ambiguous settings to identity-based mechanisms in well-defined groups; and (c) shape network representations from incomplete social knowledge, revealing human differences in cognitive mechanisms.
conclusionsWhile negative relationships can weaken social experiences, shared negative interactions can serve as prosocial tools for inferring positive relationships. Research shows that humans adjust their strategies based on relationship quantity and group structure, enabling them to build networks from incomplete social knowledge.
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