What is ostracism?

Ostracism is any act of banishing, shunning, ignoring, or excluding. One individual can carry it out upon another, or a group can do it. Ostracism comes in many forms and levels of severity. Most of us can relate to common examples: feeling left out, giving or receiving the silent treatment, time-outs for misbehavior, locking oneself in a room after an argument, hanging up the phone in mid-conversation, unanswered email, and ending a friendship or relationship. A few of us have experienced other more severe forms of ostracism: peer rejection in schools, ex-communication, banishment, or solitary confinement.

Note: The creators of this website are not against all types of ostracism. Most kinds of ostracism are hurtful and not recommended, as there are usually better ways to set boundaries and resolve conflicts. Occasionally, ostracism is necessary, such as removing oneself from a violent or life-threatening situation. We hope that this website will help people make informed decisions about ostracism. Better knowledge will save relationships as people become aware of ostracism's effects and learn other options for resolving conflicts.