Cyberostracism: A Paradigm Shift For Social Exclusion
Timothy Burke
Colorado State University

Almost everyone experiences ostracism at some level and at some point in their life; either as sources or targets. To be ostracized is to be socially excluded, rejected or ignored and is a distressing and often times a profoundly painful event (Williams, 2007). Ostracism threatens our sense of belonging and connection with others and at deeper levels our perception of existence. (van Beest, Williams, 2006). The increasing popularity in the use of the Internet as a form of social communication can provide gratifying opportunities for social interaction it also embodies a salient form of ostracism (Williams et al., 2002). This proposed study is interested the effects of online ostracism.
Ostracism is capable of threatening four fundamental needs (Williams, 1997); the need for belonging is threatened because it segregates an individual from a social group. Self-esteem is threatened because the interpretation of the individuals’ exclusion may be the result of being undervalued (van Beest, Williams, 2006). Our need for control is threatened because the individual being ostracized has little power to affect a change. Finally ostracism affects an individuals’ perception of their existence (Williams, 1997; Williams et al., 2002).
The effect of ostracism is strong enough that Williams, Cheung, and Choi (2000) discovered participants ostracized in the virtual ball toss game cyberball reported lower levels on the four needs when they were ostracized by people as they were when playing the computer alone, knowing it was not connected to other computers. Additionally Gonsalkorale and Williams (2007) found that participants in a cyberball game reported lower levels on the four needs when they were ostracized by members from a group they identified with such as political party