Deliberate social exclusion of individuals or groups is called what?

• A. Lateral hypothalamus
• B. Set point
• C. Affiliation need
• D. Ostracism

Answer: (D)

Ostracism is the deliberate social exclusion of individuals or groups. In social psychology, it means shunning, ignoring, or otherwise cutting someone off from social interaction, often as a way to punish or control behavior. It taps into the human need to belong, and being excluded can feel painful emotionally and socially, sometimes affecting mood, self-esteem, and motivation. Research even shows that social rejection can activate brain regions similar to those triggered by physical pain, highlighting how powerful this experience can be.

The other options don’t fit because they refer to unrelated concepts: the lateral hypothalamus is a brain region involved in hunger and feeding; a set point is a physiological idea about the weight range the body tries to maintain; and an affiliation need is the general drive to form social bonds, not the act of excluding others.