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The 'social death' metaphor is used to reflect ostracism's severity and death-related themes often influence ostracism research. To determine its accuracy, we examined the similarity of ostracism and mortality salience (MS) outcomes. To manipulate these constructs, we used writing prompts in Study 1, and Cyberball and a novel MS manipulation, 'Cybergrave,' in studies 2, 3a, and 3b. In Study 4, we correlated chronic ostracism and death-thought accessibility. Ostracism uniquely threatened psychological needs, whereas MS uniquely activated death thoughts. Moreover, the correlation between chronic ostracism and death-thought accessibility was small and non-significant when controlling for related variables. Results suggest the death metaphor may not always be accurate. Death-related language may bias how ostracism is conceptualized and studied, emphasizing pain over recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Three studies examined whether people feel better when self-excluding from group conversations about negative, rather than positive, information and whether people feel worse when included in group conversations about negative, rather than positive, information. Participants (N = 665) completed a retrospective recall (Study 1) and imagined scenarios (Studies 2 and 3). Participants generally reported feeling worse when they were included in groups discussing negative, rather than positive, information. They also reported feeling better when they self-excluded from groups discussing negative, rather than positive, information, particularly negative gossip. Negative gossip also led participants to have a high desire to self-exclude from the group, and this was mediated by mood. These findings suggest there are certain circumstances where people prefer to self-exclude from groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current work quantitatively explored whether the explanation for overinclusion moderates its effect. In Study 1, female participants were excluded, included, or overincluded in a virtual ball-tossing game and given reason to believe this treatment was due to their gender or not. In Study 2, female participants imagined a scenario in which they were included or overincluded due to their gender or not. The effect of inclusion versus overinclusion on participants' need satisfaction was significantly moderated by the explanation for this treatment in both studies. This work suggests that including or even overincluding members of traditionally underrepresented groups is not sufficient for members of these communities to have positive group experiences; the explanations they have for their treatment matters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge specialization, such as that present in cross-functional teams, produces both positive and negative outcomes. Our research investigated how unique expertise can lead to feelings of ostracism in the form of being out of the loop. Compared to group members with shared expertise, members with unique expertise felt out of the loop and experienced decreased fulfillment of fundamental needs, particularly when their expertise was to be given less weight in the group's decision. Possessing unique expertise did not inhibit leadership emergence, even when that expertise should not have been used in the decision-making process. So, although knowledge specialization can have positive consequences for teams and task performance, it also has some negative psychological consequences that need to be understood. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)

Examined how selected aspects of participants' histories and future plans influence their social cognitive development in a service learning class. Found that individual circumstances and group norms affect development more profoundly than the elements of program design that have traditionally received the most attention. (EV)

Presents universe data on institutional characteristics as well as on the numbers of degrees conferred in the 50 states and the District of Columbia by control of institution, gender and race/ethnicity of recipients, and degree level and field. Data are from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System of the National Center for Education Statistics. (SLD)

Studies show the importance of information sharing in decision making. However, information sharing also affects intrapersonal perceptions and group dynamics. Three experiments demonstrated that out-of-the-loop individuals experienced thwarted needs (e.g., belonging) and decreased trust and liking of group members. Experiment 1 showed these deleterious effects only occurred when information exclusion appeared intentional. Experiment 2 established that constructive motives could mitigate negative effects of intentional information exclusion. Experiment 3 showed that unintentional information exclusion deflated participants only when perceived as preventable. These experiments also provided evidence for a mediating process. Information exclusion, particularly when ill intentioned or preventable, signals poor group standing, leading to deleterious psychological effects.

Since the 1970s, there has been an increased scholarly interest in fatherhood. There have been fundamental shifts in family life, gender relations, declining wage of male earners, increases in female [...]

Typecasting: On the Arts and Sciences of Human Inequality. By Elizabeth Ewen and Stuart Ewen (New York: Seven Stories Press, 2006. 560pp. $34.95). Ewen and Ewen begin their fascinating exploration […]