Feeling invisible: Uncovering the most robust predictors of perceived ostracism

10 July 2024

Ostracism—being ignored and excluded—is a ubiquitous yet extremely painful experience. While the negative consequences of ostracism are widely acknowledged, the root causes of ostracism are poorly understood. Past studies dispersed across several areas within social and health sciences have identified several disparate variables that purportedly shape people’s subjective feelings of ostracism, such as having a certain personality trait (e.g., disagreeable), or being a member of a minority group (e.g., women in the workplace). The current project aims to uncover what predicts ostracism best, by taking an innovative and systematic approach to quantify directly and comprehensively contrast the predictive power of these variables. This project will guide policymakers, organizational leaders, and school officials, in determining how best to build an inclusive and resilient society.

Photo by Victoria Romulo