These studies, and more under way, are providing evidence for two important conclusions: (i) the social pain of ostracism is linked closely to physical pain (see Eisenberger & Lieberman, 2004; MacDonald & Leary, 2005; Panksepp, 2003) and (ii) the initial painful response to ostracism is crude and illogical. It simply says, ‘Ouch, I better stop what I am doing and pay attention to this, because it could be important.’”
— Kipling D. Williams, “Ostracism: The Kiss of Social Death” (via mister-rabbit)
