The apparent decrease in others' regard for us that results in hurt feelings is known as...

• A. Relational devaluation
• B. Relational value
• C. Relational rejection
• D. Extreme rejection

Answer: (A)

Relational devaluation describes the perception that someone who matters to us values us less, which triggers hurt feelings because it threatens our sense of relational value—the feeling of being valued and connected in that relationship. It isn’t just about feeling unloved in general; it’s specifically about noticing a drop in how much the other person regards us. Relational value is the broader sense of how much worth we derive from a relationship, while devaluation is the experience of that value decreasing due to the other person’s diminished regard.