title: "The face of ostracism": The impact of the social categorization on the thermal facial responses of the target and the observer.
abstract: Ostracism has been shown to elicit pain in both the target and the observers. Two experiments investigated the autonomic thermal signature associated with an ostracism experience and assessed whether and how social categorization impacts the autonomic arousal of both the target and the observer. Autonomic response was assessed using thermal infrared imaging, recording facial temperature variation during an online game of ball toss (i.e., Cyberball). Social categorization was manipulated using a minimal group paradigm. The results show a more intense autonomic response during ostracism (vs. inclusion), marked by an increase in facial temperature in the nose and the perioral area. This autonomic response is stronger when individuals are ostracized by ingroup (vs. outgroup) members. Similar pattern of temperature variations emerge when individuals observe an ostracism episode involving ingroup members. Our findings advance the understanding of psycho-physiological mechanisms underlying the ostracism experience and emphasize the impact of social categorization in such mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paolini
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy. Electronic address: f.alparone@unich.it.
authors.forename: Francesca R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Alparone
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy; Infrared Imaging Lab, ITAB - Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cardone
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Psychology, Tilburg University, 5000 LE, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ilja
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van Beest
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy; Infrared Imaging Lab, ITAB - Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
authors.forename: Arcangelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D005145:Face / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012934:Social Isolation; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ostracism; Social categorization; Thermal infrared imaging