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Psychology and Law
2025. Vol. 15, no. 3, 179–192
doi:10.17759/psylaw.2025150312
ISSN: 2222-5196 (online)

Current socio-psychological approaches in the study of ostracism

 
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Abstract

Context and relevance. Ostracism, as a phenomenon of social exclusion, remains a key focus of interdisciplinary research due to its destructive impact on mental health, social adaptation, and legal stability. Despite significant progress in understanding the mechanisms and consequences of ostracism, there remains a need to systematize contemporary data reflecting evolving research dynamics in the context of digitalization and cultural globalization. It becomes imperative not only to analyze current advancements but also to identify gaps that demand deeper investigation. Objective. To synthesize current research on ostracism, identify key directions in scholarly inquiry, and propose interdisciplinary-focused avenues for future research. Hypothesis. Summarizing current research on ostracism will enable the identification of key directions in scientific inquiry and the formulation of promising avenues for future research, guided by an interdisciplinary approach. Methods and materials. A systematic review of over 210 studies (1985—2023) was conducted, with emphasis on works from 2023—2025 sourced from PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and eLibrary databases, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria: empirical/theoretical studies addressing ostracism in psychological, sociological, or interdisciplinary contexts. Results. Systematization of contemporary research on ostracism revealed three key directions: Digital forms of exclusion, characterized by anonymity and large-scale impact; Culturally conditioned responses (e.g., emotional distress in collectivist societies vs. compensatory aggression in individualistic ones); Legal strategies requiring integration of psychological insights to prevent cyberbullying and social disintegration. Conclusions. The findings underscore the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach combining psychology, cultural studies, and law to develop adaptive interventions. Promising future directions include: Investigating the role of bystanders in digital environments; Developing AI algorithms to detect exclusion patterns; Conducting cross-cultural longitudinal studies.

General Information

Keywords: ostracism, exclusion, rejection, ignoring, digital ostracism, exclusion

Journal rubric: Methodological Problems of Legal Psychology

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/psylaw.2025150312

Received 01.06.2025

Revised 20.06.2025

Accepted

Published

For citation: Egorov, F.A. (2025). Current socio-psychological approaches in the study of ostracism. Psychology and Law, 15(3), 179–192. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/psylaw.2025150312

© Egorov F.A., 2025

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

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Information About the Authors

Fyodor A. Egorov, Graduate Student, Faculty of Legal Psychology, Moscow State Psychological and Pedagogical University , Educational Psychologist, Social Teacher at Special Correctional School №1708 (State Budgetary Educational Institution №1708), Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0660-4726, e-mail: kof2001@mail.ru

Conflict of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Ethics statement

The article doesn’t contain any materials to be considered by an Ethical committee.

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