title: Is viewing ostracism on television distressing?
abstract: Being ostracized can be a painful and distressing experience and can lead to subsequent aggression by the victim. However, it is unknown whether watching someone else be ostracized either in real life or on television is similarly distressing. The purpose of the current study was to examine what type of distress (if any) is induced after viewing ostracism on television. The study consisted of 50 participants, half who viewed a movie clip containing ostracism and half who viewed a control clip. Physiological and self-report data revealed that viewing ostracism was distressing to participants. In particular, participants who viewed the ostracism clip reported a lower sense of belonging, self esteem, and mood, and a greater increase in heart rate and skin conductivity than those who viewed the control clip.
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University, School of Family Life, 2087 JFSB, Provo, UT 84602, USA. smcoyne@byu.edu
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Coyne
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Simon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Nicola C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Gundersen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005201:Fantasy; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009040:Motion Pictures; D012059:Rejection, Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television; D055815:Young Adult