OSTRACISATION Meaning and
Definition
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Ostracisation refers to the act or process of excluding, isolating, or shunning an individual or a group from social, political, or communal interaction and acceptance. It involves the deliberate effort by a community or society to reject, ignore, or cast out someone based on various factors such as their beliefs, characteristics, actions, or perceived differences. Ostracisation can have profoundly negative impacts on the individuals involved, leading to feelings of loneliness, alienation, and emotional distress.
In the context of social dynamics, ostracisation often occurs when an individual or a group fails to conform to social norms or expectations, deviates from conventional behavior, holds opposing views, or possesses certain undesirable attributes. It may be enforced through various means, including exclusion from social events, denial of opportunities, withholding of resources or privileges, spreading rumors or gossip, or simply ignoring and avoiding contact with the targeted person or group.
Ostracisation can be both overt and covert, depending on the circumstances and cultural dynamics. However, it invariably serves as a mechanism of social control, enforced by collective agreement or consensus. It is often used as a means to maintain social order, assert power dynamics, or reinforce conformity within a community or society.
Overall, ostracisation represents a deeply ingrained human behavior that can have significant psychological, emotional, and social consequences for those subjected to it, while simultaneously shaping the dynamics and structure of the society or community in which it occurs.
Common Misspellings for OSTRACISATION
- iostracization
- istracisation
- kstracisation
- lstracisation
- pstracisation
- 0stracisation
- 9stracisation
- oatracisation
- oztracisation
- oxtracisation
- odtracisation
- oetracisation
- owtracisation
- osrracisation
- osfracisation
- osgracisation
- osyracisation
- os6racisation
- os5racisation
- osteacisation
Etymology of OSTRACISATION
The word "ostracisation" is derived from the noun "ostracism" combined with the suffix "-ation".
The noun "ostracism" itself originates from the Greek word "ostrakismos" (ὀστρακισμός) which referred to a political practice in ancient Athens. This practice involved the citizens casting votes by writing the name of an individual they wanted to exile, or "ostracize", from the city on a shard of pottery called an "ostrakon". If a sufficient number of votes were cast against a person, they would be banned from the city for a specific period of time.
The suffix "-ation" in English is derived from Latin and is used to form nouns denoting an action, process, or result.
