Ostracized

Ostracized is an adjective describing someone who has been excluded, shunned, or banished from a group or community. In everyday use, it refers to social rejection rather than legal punishment, though the term retains its historical roots in a specific ancient practice known as ostracism.

In ancient Athens, ostracism was a formal political mechanism. Citizens would scratch the name of a rival on a potsherd called an ostrakon; if enough votes accumulated, the person was banished from the city for about ten years. The aim was to reduce internal threats without the penalties of criminal justice. Ostracism could be applied to prominent figures regardless of guilt and did not necessarily imply wrongdoing.

Today, ostracism occurs in schools, workplaces, online forums, and social networks, often informally as peer exclusion or as a consequence of nonconformity, perceived threat, or conflict. It can be self-imposed via withdrawal or enacted by others who isolate a person.

Social exclusion can produce distress comparable to physical pain, impair self-esteem, and reduce motivation and performance. Repeated ostracism may lead to withdrawal, aggression, or long-term mental health difficulties. Neuropsychological studies have linked social pain to activity in brain regions associated with physical pain.

Research emphasizes belongingness—the human need to form and maintain close relationships. Coping strategies include seeking supportive relationships, assertive communication, and cognitive reframing. The work of Baumeister and Leary, Williams, and Eisenberger has explored ostracism, social pain, and resilience.

In contemporary language, ostracized can describe individuals who are politically, culturally, or socially marginalized. The term is usually used metaphorically rather than to describe formal banishment.