The Effects of Social Exclusion

People feel many effects of social exclusion; some are temporary and others are long lasting. No one likes to be left out, that much is true, however, scientists have recently begun to research the effects of social exclusion on the brain, and they have found that it can lead to poor decision making and a diminished learning ability. 

The negative effects depend on how long the exclusion lasts and how individuals react to it internally. In some cases, social exclusion can even lead to aggression. It may be no coincidence that the perpetrators of the Columbine massacre felt like outcasts.

In point of fact, many of those accused of school shootings have been victims of school bullying or have felt ostracized in some way. Of course not every person who was ever ostracized will display violent tendencies, but often the effects of being ostracized can traumatize the individual for years to come.

Researchers have noticed actual changes in the brain of individuals  who have been socially excluded, versus those who were socially included. Those in the excluded group showed changes in brain chemistry and performed more poorly on mathematics tests than those who were in the socially included group.

In some case,s entire groups of people have been socially excluded, leading to their marginalization in society. Individuals can be socially excluded for any number of reasons, height, weight, clothing, race, religion. 

It is well known that individuals who are socially ostracized in school suffer a loss of self esteem and feel rejected by peers and teachers. This leads to a diminished learning capacity in many regards. Individuals who don't feel good about themselves often times don't learn at the same rate as their peers.

Social ostracism is not a new concept. Individuals and groups have been discriminated against and ostracized throughout history. Tolerance is the best way of life, but only in a Utopian society is it possible.

This post is brought to you by Argosy University. Drawing upon our more than 30-year history of granting degrees in professional psychology, Argosy University has developed a curriculum that focuses on interpersonal skills and practical experience alongside academic learning. Because getting a degree is one thing. Succeeding, quite another.