Rehabilitation and protection: Beneficial uses of ostracism in groups

Eric D Wesselmann, Purdue University

Abstract

Ostracism—being excluded and ignored—is a painful, pervasive phenomenon (Williams, 2009). Most social psychological research has focused on the ill effects of ostracism on targets, but has ignored the motives for using ostracism. The goal of the present research is to examine the group's use of ostracism as a form of social control for managing a burdensome group member. I argue there are two primary motives for why groups use ostracism on a burdensome group member: To rehabilitate this member in the short term and to protect the group by ejecting this member who harms the group's long-term goals. Studies 1a and 1b provided an initial demonstration of participants' use of ostracism on a burdensome group member, as well as established rehabilitative and protective motives for ostracism. Study 2 investigated how participants respond to a burdensome group member they cannot rehabilitate due to an external factor (i.e., poor connection speed during an online group interaction). Participants ostracized a burdensome member regardless of attribution, but were less likely to endorse rehabilitative motives for a burdensome member who could not rehabilitate. Finally, Study 3 examined how participants responded to a burdensome group member that either rehabilitated or persisted in being burdensome after being ostracized in an initial group interaction. Participants re-included a burdensome player that rehabilitated in the second interaction, and indicated this re-inclusion was to reward the target player for changing behavior. Participants continued to ostracize a target player who was burdensome in both interactions, and they were more likely to endorse protective motives after the second interaction than the first. This program of research represents substantial theoretical and empirical advancement in an understudied area of research—namely, understanding the factors that motivate ostracism in group interactions.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Williams, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Physical therapy|Social psychology

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