Unanimous versus partial rejection: How the number of excluders influences the impact of ostracism in children
Publication year
2017Author(s)
Number of pages
14 p.
Source
Aggressive Behavior, 43, 2, (2017), pp. 190-203ISSN
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor
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Organization
SW OZ BSI ON
SW OZ BSI AO
SW OZ BSI SCP
Journal title
Aggressive Behavior
Volume
vol. 43
Issue
iss. 2
Languages used
English (eng)
Page start
p. 190
Page end
p. 203
Subject
Behaviour Change and Well-being; Social Development; Work, Health and PerformanceAbstract
Previous research has shown that ostracism - the experience of being ignored and excluded - has negative effects on all of us, young and old. Using a Cyberball paradigm, the present research replicates the effects of ostracism on the moods (anger, anxiety, happiness, and anger) and fundamental needs (belongingness, control, meaningful existence, and self-esteem) of children (Study 1) and then extends the literature by examining the role of the number of ostracizers and inclusive members in this process by randomly assigning children to conditions varying in degree of ostracism (Study 2). Results of both studies showed that experiencing ostracism strongly and negatively affected all moods and fundamental needs - with the exception of anxiety. Study 2 in addition showed that the ratio of excluders to inclusive group members had different effects across outcomes. In all cases, complete ostracism produced the worst outcomes, suggesting that the presence of even a single ally reduces children's distress. For sadness, unanimous ostracism seemed particularly toxic. In some cases, facing two ostracizers produced significantly worse outcomes than only one, suggesting that consensual rejection might drive the negative effects on happiness, and sense of belonging, control, and meaningful existence. For self-esteem, only one ostracizer (in the presence of two inclusive members) was sufficient to induce a negative effect.
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- Academic publications [238586]
- Electronic publications [122877]
- Faculty of Social Sciences [29513]
- Open Access publications [97858]
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