ostracism

Definition

The act of excluding or ignoring someone, which functions as a form of social rejection or emotional punishment.

Etymology

Derived from the ancient Greek word 'ostrakismos,' which referred to a procedure where citizens were banished by voting on shards of pottery called 'ostraka'.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe how the domestic habit of ignoring a partner causes the same neurological distress as physical pain, highlighting why the practice is so damaging to relationships.

Psychology says people who retreat into silence when upset aren't broken or withholding — they often come from homes where speaking up changed the atmosphere in the room, and they've been managing the atmosphere ever since

Silicon Canals

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