The Psychological Effects of Ostracism

The Psychological Effects of Ostracism is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course that explores the effects of ostracism in both children and adults.

This course will explore the reasons why ostracism occurs – from feelings of moral superiority to differences in physical appearance, and even the idea that ostracism is necessary to insure social cooperation. We will then examine the ways in which ostracism leads to feelings of aggression, hostility, the tendency to endorse extreme beliefs, physical effects such as increased stress hormones, decreased immunity and decreased pain tolerance, and disrupts cognitive function often impairing our ability to work.

We will then explore the ways in which ostracism exists online – often known as “cybermobbing” – and the related psychological effects. From there, we will turn our attention to the compensatory behaviors that often result from being ostracized – from decreased self-control and potentially delinquent behavior, to victimization of weaker others, and exaggerated attention seeking behaviors.

Lastly, we will look at the steps clinicians can take to help clients overcome the effects of ostracism – from broadening the social network, restoring values, getting creative, and even some alternative forms of treatment. This section also includes exercises that you can use with clients in session to help restore their sense of belonging, identify unknown strengths and quite possibly, even find psychological growth in the challenging experience of ostracism.

Course #21-36 | 2019 | 40 pages | 15 posttest questions