Faculty Publications

Language Exclusion And The Consequences Of Perceived Ostracism In The Workplace

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Exclusion, Ostracism, Prejudice, Workplace attitudes and behavior

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Group Dynamics

Volume

10

Issue

1

First Page

56

Last Page

70

Abstract

The current research examined the impact of workplace ostracism on work-related attitudes and behaviors. Participants read a vignette describing a series of workplace interactions between the participant and two coworkers. During the interactions, participants were included in a group discussion, ostracized by coworkers in English or ostracized in Spanish. Consistent with predictions, ostracized participants reported lower levels of organizational commitment and organizational citizenship behaviors than included participants. Ostracism by language resulted in lower work group commitment and higher levels of symbolic threat compared with included participants and those ostracized in English. Increased prejudice was also reported by participants exposed to language ostracism. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for general attitudinal processes and employee-related work attitudes and behaviors. Copyright 2006 by the American Psychological Association.

Department

Department of Psychology

Original Publication Date

3-1-2006

DOI of published version

10.1037/1089-2699.10.1.56

Share

COinS