Unanimous versus partial rejection: How the number of excluders influences the impact of ostracism in children

Abstract

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. Aggr. Behav. 43:190-203, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The ‘scars’ left on children by exclusion, but re‐inclusion may ‘heal up’

“…This finding provides support for Hypothesis 1. The results are consistent with previous studies conducted with children aged 8–9 years old (Abrams et al, 2011; Sandstrom et al, 2017) and early adolescents aged 10–14 years old (Ruggieri et al, 2013), which also demonstrated that short periods of ostracism from unknown individuals led to a significant decline in primary needs satisfaction and increased negative emotions among school‐aged children. These findings support the generalizability of the need‐threat model proposed by Williams (2009) to school‐aged children.…”

“…Consistent with previous research on social exclusion (Hawes et al, 2012; Sandstrom et al, 2017), our hypothesis is that excluded children will experience a greater threat to their primary needs threat, fewer positive moods and more negative moods compared to included children (H1). Additionally, it is believed that younger children may have less developed social information processing skills than older children (Crick & Dodge, 1994).…”

The ‘scars’ left on children by exclusion, but re‐inclusion may ‘heal up’

“…This finding provides support for Hypothesis 1. The results are consistent with previous studies conducted with children aged 8–9 years old (Abrams et al, 2011; Sandstrom et al, 2017) and early adolescents aged 10–14 years old (Ruggieri et al, 2013), which also demonstrated that short periods of ostracism from unknown individuals led to a significant decline in primary needs satisfaction and increased negative emotions among school‐aged children. These findings support the generalizability of the need‐threat model proposed by Williams (2009) to school‐aged children.…”

“…Consistent with previous research on social exclusion (Hawes et al, 2012; Sandstrom et al, 2017), our hypothesis is that excluded children will experience a greater threat to their primary needs threat, fewer positive moods and more negative moods compared to included children (H1). Additionally, it is believed that younger children may have less developed social information processing skills than older children (Crick & Dodge, 1994).…”

The “scars” left on children by Exclusion, but Re-inclusion may “heal up”

“…Firstly, our findings revealed that school-aged children who were excluded from the Cyberball game reported significantly greater threats to their primary needs (including belonging, self-esteem, meaningful existence, and control) and experienced more negative emotions (such as decreased happiness, increased anger, and increased sadness). The results are consistent with previous studies conducted with children aged 8-9 years old (Abrams et al, 2011;Sandstrom et al, 2017) and early adolescents aged 10-14 years old (Ruggieri, 2011), which also demonstrated that short periods of ostracism from unknown individuals led to a significant decline in primary needs satisfaction and increased negative emotions among school-aged children. These findings support the generalizability of the need-threat model proposed by Williams (2009) to school-aged children.…”

Training Self-compassion: Exploring the Effects on Adolescents’ Physiological and Self-reported Stress Responses

“…Consistent with the findings of Sandstrom et al (2017), participants reported low to moderate scores on belongingness (M = 3.67, SD = 1.62)¸ control (M = 2.11, SD = 1.38), meaningful existence (M = 3.75, SD = 1.33), and self-esteem (M = 3.54, SD = 3.54, SD = 1.59). These results indicate that ostracism was successfully evoked by playing the Cyberball game and participants' fundamental needs were threatened.…”

The ‘scars’ left on children by exclusion, but re‐inclusion may ‘heal up’

“…This finding provides support for Hypothesis 1. The results are consistent with previous studies conducted with children aged 8–9 years old (Abrams et al, 2011; Sandstrom et al, 2017) and early adolescents aged 10–14 years old (Ruggieri et al, 2013), which also demonstrated that short periods of ostracism from unknown individuals led to a significant decline in primary needs satisfaction and increased negative emotions among school‐aged children. These findings support the generalizability of the need‐threat model proposed by Williams (2009) to school‐aged children.…”

“…Consistent with previous research on social exclusion (Hawes et al, 2012; Sandstrom et al, 2017), our hypothesis is that excluded children will experience a greater threat to their primary needs threat, fewer positive moods and more negative moods compared to included children (H1). Additionally, it is believed that younger children may have less developed social information processing skills than older children (Crick & Dodge, 1994).…”

The “scars” left on children by Exclusion, but Re-inclusion may “heal up”

“…Firstly, our findings revealed that school-aged children who were excluded from the Cyberball game reported significantly greater threats to their primary needs (including belonging, self-esteem, meaningful existence, and control) and experienced more negative emotions (such as decreased happiness, increased anger, and increased sadness). The results are consistent with previous studies conducted with children aged 8-9 years old (Abrams et al, 2011;Sandstrom et al, 2017) and early adolescents aged 10-14 years old (Ruggieri, 2011), which also demonstrated that short periods of ostracism from unknown individuals led to a significant decline in primary needs satisfaction and increased negative emotions among school-aged children. These findings support the generalizability of the need-threat model proposed by Williams (2009) to school-aged children.…”

Training Self-compassion: Exploring the Effects on Adolescents’ Physiological and Self-reported Stress Responses

“…Consistent with the findings of Sandstrom et al (2017), participants reported low to moderate scores on belongingness (M = 3.67, SD = 1.62)¸ control (M = 2.11, SD = 1.38), meaningful existence (M = 3.75, SD = 1.33), and self-esteem (M = 3.54, SD = 3.54, SD = 1.59). These results indicate that ostracism was successfully evoked by playing the Cyberball game and participants' fundamental needs were threatened.…”

The ‘scars’ left on children by exclusion, but re‐inclusion may ‘heal up’

“…This finding provides support for Hypothesis 1. The results are consistent with previous studies conducted with children aged 8–9 years old (Abrams et al, 2011; Sandstrom et al, 2017) and early adolescents aged 10–14 years old (Ruggieri et al, 2013), which also demonstrated that short periods of ostracism from unknown individuals led to a significant decline in primary needs satisfaction and increased negative emotions among school‐aged children. These findings support the generalizability of the need‐threat model proposed by Williams (2009) to school‐aged children.…”

“…Consistent with previous research on social exclusion (Hawes et al, 2012; Sandstrom et al, 2017), our hypothesis is that excluded children will experience a greater threat to their primary needs threat, fewer positive moods and more negative moods compared to included children (H1). Additionally, it is believed that younger children may have less developed social information processing skills than older children (Crick & Dodge, 1994).…”

The “scars” left on children by Exclusion, but Re-inclusion may “heal up”

“…Firstly, our findings revealed that school-aged children who were excluded from the Cyberball game reported significantly greater threats to their primary needs (including belonging, self-esteem, meaningful existence, and control) and experienced more negative emotions (such as decreased happiness, increased anger, and increased sadness). The results are consistent with previous studies conducted with children aged 8-9 years old (Abrams et al, 2011;Sandstrom et al, 2017) and early adolescents aged 10-14 years old (Ruggieri, 2011), which also demonstrated that short periods of ostracism from unknown individuals led to a significant decline in primary needs satisfaction and increased negative emotions among school-aged children. These findings support the generalizability of the need-threat model proposed by Williams (2009) to school-aged children.…”

Training Self-compassion: Exploring the Effects on Adolescents’ Physiological and Self-reported Stress Responses

“…Consistent with the findings of Sandstrom et al (2017), participants reported low to moderate scores on belongingness (M = 3.67, SD = 1.62)¸ control (M = 2.11, SD = 1.38), meaningful existence (M = 3.75, SD = 1.33), and self-esteem (M = 3.54, SD = 3.54, SD = 1.59). These results indicate that ostracism was successfully evoked by playing the Cyberball game and participants' fundamental needs were threatened.…”