Ostracism and social exclusion: Implications for separation, social isolation, and loss.

Ostracism-being ignored and excluded-has received considerable experimental research attention over the last 25 years. Ostracism signals social separation, isolation, and loss, and responses vary across time. Ostracism episodes as short as 2 min result in physiological pain responses, need threat, and emotional distress, followed by cognitive, emotional, motivational, and behavioral responses that either increase the likelihood of subsequent inclusion (at the cost of being socially pliable), or ensure further ostracism through aggression or solitude. Longer-term ostracism leads to resignation, accompanied by alienation, depression, helplessness, and feelings of unworthiness of attention by others. This review focuses on current research on factors that prolong the isolation and loss associated with ostracism, and on interventions that may speed recovery.

Ostracism in pediatric populations: review of theory and research.

Ostracism, ignoring and excluding a target individual, has recently emerged as one of the more common and damaging forms of social exchange. This article reviews the theoretical and empirical foundations of ostracism and its impact on the targeted individual, especially threats to the fundamental psychological needs of belonging, self-esteem, meaningful existence, and sense of control. Ostracism in children and adolescents is under-researched compared to bullying in general, in both the general youth population and in populations of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). Basic and applied studies on ostracism and its impact are reviewed with special emphasis on recent findings about ostracism in CYSHCN. Evidence is presented that ostracism may pose an even greater threat to children's adjustment and need-threat levels than bullying. Resources for clinician and researcher engagement in this emerging area are provided.