The idea that some people experience social exclusion due to their identities is well-known, but it remains poorly understood how this affects them psychologically. As a result, I will look into studies which investigated this issue with queer populations and discovered three major effects of exclusion. Firstly, it has been shown that marginalized individuals have less positive thoughts about themselves, are more prone to self-blame, tend to be hopeless and pessimistic, and feel alienated from others. Secondly, they lose purpose and motivation in life, resulting in lower quality of life and reduced productivity. Lastly, excluded members of society often feel their lives lack meaning and direction, leading to higher rates of depression and suicide attempts. These findings imply that societal rejection can alter cognitive frameworks around hope, goal-setting, and meaning-making for those experiencing it.
Research suggests that exclusion may lead to negative thoughts about one's own identity or even self-hatred. One study looked into the experiences of LGBTQ+ students who had been rejected by their families or communities due to their sexual orientation or gender expression. They found that these young adults reported feeling ashamed of themselves and seeing their identities as an inherent flaw (Hatzenbuehler & Keyes, 2009). Another study examined how transgender people's sense of belongingness impacted their mental health and found that those who felt included in their communities were significantly happier than those who did not (Lewis et al., 2018).
Researchers discovered that minority youths' feelings of self-esteem were strongly linked to their perceptions of social acceptance (Galovan et al., 2016). Thus, societal rejection seems to create a cycle wherein individuals internalize stigma and develop negative attitudes towards themselves and their identities, leading to emotional distress. This finding is important because it shows that psychological effects of discrimination are far more profound than merely coping with external stressors. Instead, they affect inner processes such as self-concept formation, motivation, and worldview.
Exclusion has also been shown to have consequences on purpose and meaning-making.
Studies show that when members of marginalized groups feel like outcasts, they tend to lack direction in life, which can result in lower productivity and engagement in activities (Kim et al., 2014; Park et al., 2017). One example is the experience of Black Americans who had higher rates of suicidal ideation after experiencing racial discrimination (Barnes et al., 2015). Further evidence comes from a study on Latinx immigrants who reported feeling 'disconnected' from society due to prejudice against their ethnic group (Salgado de Snyder et al., 2019). In these cases, rejection leads to a lack of goal-setting, decreased energy, and a general sense of purposelessness in life.
This suggests that marginalized populations may struggle with finding meaning in their daily lives without adequate social support or belongingness.
Excluded groups often report feeling that their lives are lacking in meaning or worthiness. According to one study, sexual minorities felt less pride in their identities and less connected to broader societal goals compared to heterosexuals (Galovan et al., 2016). Another found that gay men reported more internalizing symptoms than straight individuals because of their exclusion (McCabe & Burt, 2003). Moreover, transgender people were less likely to find purpose in life and thus had higher levels of depression and anxiety (Lewis et al., 2018). As a result, those who feel like outsiders tend to have lower levels of motivation for living and are more prone to despair over the world around them. This conclusion is significant as it points out how exclusion can impact fundamental aspects of human experience such as purpose and hopefulness. It also highlights that rejection does not merely lead to emotional distress but affects core psychological processes that give us a sense of direction in life.
In sum, research shows that when groups are rejected by society, they may develop negative cognitive frameworks around themselves, lose purpose and motivation in life, and see their lives as empty and meaningless. These effects suggest that discrimination has far-reaching consequences beyond coping strategies; instead, it alters our most essential thoughts about ourselves, others, and the future. Therefore, we should strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported.
In what ways does societal exclusion alter queer individuals' cognitive frameworks around hope, purpose, and meaning-making?
Societal exclusion can have a significant impact on queer individuals' cognitive frameworks around hope, purpose, and meaning-making. Firstly, when queer people are excluded from social groups due to their sexual orientation or gender identity, they may experience feelings of hopelessness, as they may not see a path forward that allows them to fully express themselves without fear of judgment or discrimination.