Lack of Resources and Interpersonal Communication

First published: February 14, 2021 https://doi.org/10.1002/jcpy.1226

Commentary

People cite "insufficient time" and "money" as excuses for rejecting social invitations.

This study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of these excuses in maintaining interpersonal relationships.

Six studies involving couples planning a wedding compared using insufficient time as an excuse to using insufficient money as an excuse.

These effects are driven by the perceived controllability of resources.

The study results suggest that consumers may be less influenced by personal control over the availability of financial resources than they are by the availability of time. And excuses citing time constraints were found to be less reliable and to reduce feelings of interpersonal and helping behavior. Despite the robustness of the effect of this excuse, it does not predict the relational disadvantages of citing time constraints.

Communication that emphasizes the relative uncontrollability of time increases the effectiveness of these excuses, according to the study.

The results will increase our understanding of the role of time and money references in consumer behavior and provide practical insights for minimizing the social consequences of rejecting social invitations, they say.