Ostracism; How it Influences Life: An Overview

Abstract

Ostracism, a construct which has gained widespread attention, has been described by researchers with various names such as “isolation, social exclusion, rejection, abandonment, and being out of the loop”. Most episodes of ostracism were observed among persons who belong to equal status, and participants who experience ostracism report lower levels of acceptance by loved ones. The intensity of experiences were profound when got ostracised by kinfolks than when they encounter ostracism by unknowns. Existence of ostracism no matter which the setting is social or organisational but it adversely silhouettes the lifestyle of an individual. The term has been talked a lot since eons still few researches are available which divulge the strategies and coping mechanism to combat and confront the phenomenon, which has also been stated as, “kiss of social death” The present review is an effort in this direction moreover it also highlights the sources, motives, reactions, effects, and coping mechanism to make the comprehension of the construct not only more easier and effortless but concrete and practical. The future research suggestions have also been discussed.