Current trends and future perspectives in research on social exclusion during infancy and early childhood

Abstract

Social exclusion refers to being ignored, ostracized, or rejected by others. While social exclusion is a phenomenon widely observable throughout human life, beginning as early as infancy, research into its developmental processes and impacts has only recently begun. Therefore, this paper introduces a representative model and methods used to examine social exclusion, reviews the latest trends in developmental research based on these methods, and discusses future issues and prospects. Specifically, I first introduce Williams’s temporal need-threat model as a key model regarding social exclusion and provide an overview of experimental and non-experimental methodologies applied across participants from infants to adults. Next, I clarify the effects of social exclusion on individuals’ fundamental needs, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects by synthesizing existing findings from adults and developmental studies. Finally, I address theoretical, methodological, cultural, and ethical issues emerging in advancing developmental research and discuss prospects.