16 Questions
What happens when our bodies show signs of stress?
Our adrenal glands dump cortisol, a stress hormone, into our blood
What is the average time estimate of people who felt accepted by others in a study?
42 seconds
What happens when belongingness is threatened?
People work hard to regain their partners' regard
What happens after an experience with exclusion?
People start looking for new, kinder friends
What kind of reactions may occur when ostracism seems illegitimate and unjust?
More antagonistic reactions
What happens when ostracized people get angry?
They dismiss the opinions of those who are ignoring them
What often precedes instances of students taking guns to school and shooting innocent classmates?
Instances of ostracism or romantic rejection
What is the effect of ostracizing others?
They are likely to feel angry and frustrated
What percentage of Americans reported that they had given an intimate partner the cold shoulder?
67 percent
What is a common reason why people intentionally ignore their partners?
To punish their partners
What is a typical reaction of the targets of ostracism to their partners' withdrawal?
They believe the ostracism has damaged their relationships
What is threatened by ostracism?
Basic social needs
What is a feeling that people may experience when they are ostracized?
Confused and unhappy
What is the effect of ostracism on the feelings of self-worth?
It decreases them
How does ostracism affect people's perception of their control over their interactions?
It decreases their sense of control
What is a physical sensation that people who are ostracized may experience?
A feeling of coldness
Study Notes
Ostracism in Relationships
- Ostracism is a form of rejection where people are intentionally ignored by those around them, leaving the targets wondering why they are being ignored.
- 67% of Americans have given an intimate partner the cold shoulder, and 75% have received such treatment from a loved one.
Reasons for Ostracism
- Ostracizers justify their actions as a way to punish their partners, avoid confrontation, or calm down and cool off following a conflict.
- Ostracizers believe that their actions are beneficial in achieving their goals.
Effects of Ostracism
- Ostracism threatens basic social needs, damages feelings of self-worth, and reduces perceived control over interactions.
- Targets of ostracism often feel confused, unhappy, and disarrayed.
- Ostracism can be dehumanizing and painful.
- Physiological effects of ostracism include increased cortisol levels, stress, and slower perceived time.
Reactions to Ostracism
- When belongingness is threatened, people may work hard to regain their partners' regard or look for new, kinder partners.
- People may also become angry, aggressive, and dismissive of others' opinions.
- Ostracism can lead to surly behavior, even toward innocent bystanders.
Research on Ostracism
- Researchers have developed procedures to create potent experiences of rejection in labs to study ostracism.
- Ostracism has been linked to instances of school shootings, with most cases preceded by ostracism or romantic rejection.
Learn about ostracism, a form of rejection where individuals are intentionally ignored, and its effects on relationships. Discover how common this phenomenon is in intimate partnerships.
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