Aggression through the prism of social ostracism

Abstract

Social ostracism is ubiquitous, ranging from exclusion on the playground in kindergarten to bullying in school, romantic rejection among adolescents, or workplace expulsion in adulthood. According to K. D. Williams ' model, ostracism (ignoring and/or excluding) threatens fundamental human needs (belonging, control, meaningful existence, self-esteem), causes «social pain». Studies of ostracism over the past 30 years have established a strong relationship between ostracism and aggressive responses, but social ostracism itself can take the form of aggression for punitive purposes. In the article, we give a review of research in the field of aggressive response to ostracism and a detailed scheme of studying ostracism (as a punishing element) among gifted children. The article may be useful to psychologists and teachers working with phenomenon of aggression, social exclusion.

Keywords

• social ostracism
• ignoring
• exclusion
• rejection
• aggression
• gifted children
• social pain