Ostracism is an insidious means of informal punishment or social control that brings immediate pain to the individual affected. The employee’s core need for a sense of belonging as well as their self esteem is also under attack particularly when ostracism is severe and continuous.
How and Why Ostracism Exists
In simplest terms, this type of bullying occurs when an individual is purposefully ignored by coworkers or supervisors. These individuals may be excluded from conversations or social activities, denied information necessary for their job performance, left off email distribution lists, shunned by colleagues during meetings or not notified of meetings. In some instances, an individual may be physically removed from an active or comfortable work location and relocated to an area that is hostile, indifferent or of low visibility.
Unlike verbal or written insults or threatening physical gestures, ostracism is mostly invisible. The victim has little to no evidence to document unfairness or harassment at work. Complaints about their treatment often lead to the employee being typecast as a “problem” or worse, as “paranoid” or “hysterical.” The victim of ostracism is cast into a Catch-22 position, where legitimate complaints are viewed with a mixture of suspicion and derision. If the ostracism involves the employee’s supervisor, then the situation is worsened.
Impact of Ostracism at Work
Kipling D. Williams, Ph.D, has extensively researched the subject of ostracism and published numerous titles on the topic. His 2001 book, Ostracism: The Power of Silence (Guilford Press), includes case studies on this social phenomenon within organizations, in cyberspace and in social units.
Williams, Professor of Psychological Sciences at Purdue University, says that the effects of ostracism are more severe now since individuals have smaller support networks than in the past. Although the initial pain is still present, persons who can access support from friends are able to put the experience in a different perspective. As a result, their hurt feelings may not linger. However, if an individual does not have that kind of supportive framework, then the harm continues unabated.
In a recent interview, "Cold Shoulder, Silent Treatment Do More Harm Than Good," (Purdue News Services), Williams noted that ostracism is “one of the most widely used forms of social punishment, and some see it as more humane than corporal punishment, as when used in a time-out, but there is a deeper psychological impact that needs to be taken seriously.”
“We know that when people are ostracized, it can affect their perceptions, physiological conditions, attitude and behavior - all of which sometimes can lead to aggression,” says Williams.
Aggressiveness is contrary to group cohesion in a team atmosphere. Instead of focusing on job performance, these employees may use valuable time complaining about instances of isolation. Additionally, the morale of excluded employees plummets as they perceive their low value to the organization. The entire situation takes on a domino effect, where the ostracized employee disengages as a functioning team member, and becomes hostile and distrustful toward their supervisor and coworkers. Their productivity drops. If the ostracism continues, then eventually a self-fulfilling prophecy may be created, in which the isolated individual becomes a low functioning, low valued employee, who may then legitimately be dismissed.
Long-Lasting Effect of Ostracism
Williams has pointed out other harmful consequences of ongoing workplace ostracism. While the emotional trauma of physical pain is not repeated when called up in memory, the psychological injury associated with ostracism is experienced upon recall.
In a 2007 paper, "Ostracism: The Kiss of Social Death," which appeared in the journal, Social and Personality Psychology Compass, Williams reported findings on his interviews with people who have suffered exclusion for long periods of time. He found that these individuals self-isolate, perhaps hoping to avoid further rejection. More psychologically damaging however, were reports of depression, suicidal ideations and suicide attempts. Says Williams: “They feel little ability to change their situation, and have resigned themselves to feeling unworthy of attention at all.”
The Most Brutal Bullying
While ostracism is used for brief periods as a means of correcting conduct, the measure becomes brutally painful when done over months or even years. This form of workplace bullying carries the deepest scars and the longest recovery. It affects an individual’s very core of self worth.
Sources Cited:
Neubert, Amy Patterson. "Cold Shoulder, Silent Treatment Do More Harm Than Good ." Purdue News Service 07 27 2005 Web. 17 Apr 2009. <http://news.uns.purdue.edu/html3month/2005/050727. Williams.exclusion.html>.
Williams, Kipling D.. "Ostracism: The Kiss of Social Death." Social and Personality Psychology Compass 1.1 (2007) 236-247. Web. 17 Apr 2009. <http://research.chicagogsb.edu/cdr/docs/SocialDeath-Williams.pdf>.
Williams, K. D. (2001). Ostracism: The Power of Silence. New York, NY: Guilford Publications.
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