Interaction Studies Social Behaviour and Communication in Biological and Artificial Systems · 2005 · 25 citations · 0 references
Social SciencesPsychologySocial PsychologyAbnormal PsychologyProsocial BehaviorSelfCoping BehaviorsCoping StrategiesSocial ExclusionSocial ThreatSocial WithdrawalChronic Social ExclusionExclusionary Social RejectionNeed-threat ModelProsocial CognitionRejection-related DistressSelf-esteem ThreatSocial Exclusion ParadigmsSocial Exclusion Theory
Ostracism signals a threat that elicits pain and distress, triggers sadness and anger, threatens fundamental needs, and prompts individuals to seek relational belonging or pursue control and recognition, leading to prosocial or antisocial behaviors. The review examines social psychological research on ostracism, social exclusion, and rejection. The authors conduct a literature review of studies on ostracism, social exclusion, and rejection. Chronic ostracism depletes coping resources, leading to depression and helplessness.
In this review, I examine the social psychological research on ostracism, social exclusion, and rejection. Being ignored, excluded, and/or rejected signals a threat for which reflexive detection in the form of pain and distress is adaptive for survival. Brief ostracism episodes result in sadness and anger and threaten fundamental needs. Individuals then act to fortify or replenish their thwarted need or needs. Behavioral consequences appear to be split into two general categories: attempts to fortify relational needs (belonging, self-esteem, shared understanding, and trust), which lead generally to prosocial thoughts and behaviors, or attempts to fortify efficacy/existence needs of control and recognition that may be dealt with most efficiently through antisocial thoughts and behaviors. Available research on chronic exposure to ostracism appears to deplete coping resources, resulting in depression and helplessness.