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What is ostracism? 


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Ostracism is a form of exclusion or punishment practiced since ancient times, as seen in Athenian democracy and modern social psychology research. In ancient Athens, ostracism was a method to protect democracy by exiling individuals perceived as potential tyrants for ten years, without confiscating their property . Modern studies show that ostracism can lead to negative psychological and physiological effects, contributing to psychiatric disorders and social stigma . Furthermore, ostracism is found to be a highly painful experience, affecting individuals negatively across different age groups, with older adults reporting experiencing it less frequently . Overall, ostracism involves exclusion, rejection, and social punishment, impacting both historical political systems and contemporary social dynamics.

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Ostracism is social exclusion, a key factor in psychiatric disorders, exacerbating symptoms in a vicious cycle. Experimental studies show its impact on various disorders like borderline personality disorder and major depressive disorder.
Open accessJournal ArticleDOI
1 Citations
Ostracism is exclusion by peers used as punishment. It affects behavior in social groups, reducing theft but leading to retaliation and stigmatization, impacting group dynamics and rehabilitation efforts.
Ostracism in ancient Athens was a democratic exile system to protect against tyrants. Citizens voted to exile individuals for ten years without property confiscation, aiming to safeguard democracy.
Book ChapterDOI
01 Dec 2022
Ostracism is the act of rejecting, excluding, or ignoring someone from a community. In ancient Athens, it involved exiling a citizen without trial based on unsupported allegations.

Related Questions

How does organizational dehumanization contribute to workplace ostracism?5 answersOrganizational dehumanization contributes to workplace ostracism by creating a chain reaction of negative behaviors and perceptions among employees. Research suggests that organizational metadehumanization leads to increased emotional labor, such as surface acting, which then results in mechanistic self-dehumanizing perceptions. This cycle of dehumanization can further exacerbate feelings of workplace loneliness and silence, ultimately fostering an environment of ostracism within the organization. Additionally, workplace ostracism can trigger various forms of deviant behaviors, including interpersonal and organizational deviance, with a stronger impact on organizational deviance. Addressing organizational dehumanization is crucial to prevent the detrimental effects of workplace ostracism and promote a positive work environment.
Are there any studies investigating the relationship between loneliness and reactions to ostracism?4 answersThere have been several studies investigating the relationship between loneliness and reactions to ostracism. One study found that workplace ostracism has a positive effect on workplace loneliness, and both workplace ostracism and workplace loneliness affect organizational silence positively. Another study found that workplace ostracism was positively associated with workplace loneliness, and workplace loneliness was negatively associated with job performance. Additionally, a study on adolescent students found that ostracism had a positive relationship with loneliness and a negative impact on self-esteem. Furthermore, a systematic review of experimental studies in psychiatric disorders found that ostracism contributes to the development and persistence of these disorders, and that reactions to ostracism can vary depending on the specific disorder. Overall, these studies highlight the detrimental effects of ostracism on loneliness and psychological well-being.
Are lonely people getting more ostracized?5 answersLonely people are more likely to experience ostracism. Studies have shown that individuals low in conscientiousness or agreeableness, which are personality traits associated with loneliness, are at a higher risk of being ostracized. Ostracism, which involves excluding and ignoring others, can lead to feelings of loneliness and social rejection. Furthermore, research has found that lonely or rejected individuals tend to distance themselves from their favorite brands, indicating a similar pattern of ostracism in consumer-brand relationships. In initial social interactions, lonelier individuals tend to view themselves more negatively and believe that others perceive them more negatively. These findings suggest that loneliness and ostracism are interconnected, with lonely individuals being more susceptible to experiencing ostracism in various contexts.
What is the relationship between social ostracism and self-esteem in the context of education?5 answersSocial ostracism and self-esteem in the context of education have been explored in several studies. The literature suggests that self-affirmation interventions, such as value-affirmation interventions, can have long-term beneficial effects on the academic performance and trajectories of members of negatively stereotyped groups, thus reducing achievement gaps. Additionally, research has shown that students' social identities and their experiences of schooling can influence their educational exclusion. Furthermore, studies have found that possession of a negative self-concept is often seen as a factor in the poor academic achievement of certain groups, such as Indian youth. However, it is important to note that Indian youth do not generally feel depressed, inferior, and powerless, despite the challenges they may face in an urban-industrial and/or middle-class environment. Overall, these findings highlight the complex relationship between social ostracism, self-esteem, and educational outcomes, emphasizing the need for further research in this area.
How does ostracism affect the engagement of marketing influencers with their audience?5 answersOstracism has a negative impact on job engagement. It reduces the sense of felt obligation, which in turn affects job engagement negatively. Workplace belongingness mediates the relationship between workplace ostracism and job engagement. Intrinsic work motivation moderates the negative effect of workplace ostracism on job engagement through workplace belongingness. Highly neurotic employees are more negatively affected by workplace ostracism, leading to a decrease in work engagement. Therefore, workplace ostracism plays a significant role in reducing job engagement, and it is essential to reduce its incidence in the workplace.
How am I supposed to live without you : an investigation of antecedents and consequences of workplace ostracism?3 answersWorkplace ostracism has been extensively studied in terms of its antecedents and consequences. Leadership characteristics, certain aspects of personality (such as the Big Five traits), and contextual factors (such as social support) have been identified as strong antecedents of workplace ostracism. Workplace ostracism has been found to strongly relate to deviance, as well as other performance outcomes (such as core-performance, helping, and voice), well-being outcomes (such as psychological well-being, emotions, and self-perceptions), and organizational perceptions (such as job satisfaction, commitment, and justice). The relationship between these outcomes and workplace ostracism remains consistent even when measured before and after ostracism, suggesting that they may be antecedents rather than consequences. Additionally, workplace ostracism has been found to negatively impact employee job performance, with this relationship being mediated by employee organization-based self-esteem. Understanding the antecedents and consequences of workplace ostracism is crucial for preventing and addressing this harmful behavior in organizations.