Abstract

Ostracism is a negative and frequent social phenomenon in our daily relationships, see for example the different forms of bullying and mobbing. Because sociality and the need of belonging are basic human needs, when they are threatened by the ostracism, people experience pain and alienation with serious psychological consequences. Examining the studies in which the ostracism was manipulated through the Cyberball paradigm, the present review tries to provide an overview of the empirical evidence on the neuro-physiological, psychological – intrapersonal – and behavioral – interpersonal – consequences of ostracism, both from the perspective of those who are directly exposed to the ostracism and those who observe it.