Nancy J Bailey

Surviving the Shun Nancy J Bailey

Have you been ghosted? You are not alone. One of the most common and most insidious forms of bullying is the practice of shunning. By common agreement, a group of friends or colleagues elects to single out one person and pretend he or she no longer exists. The human race is a social group, and the tendencies toward tribalism are natural. But the results have an enormous psychological impact on the scorned individual. Shunning can lead to depression, impaired work performance, even suicide. There isn't a lot of information available about shunning even though it has been around for centuries, and is noted in literary works such as, "The Scarlet Letter." It is mentioned in the Bible, and in fact is still a common practice among some religious groups. These days, stoning is out, but shunning is in. Modern society encourages the individual to turn away from people who are negative or toxic, but the practice of shunning can be group-related and takes the theory beyond what is healthy for anyone involved. Shunning is used in work environments; gatherings at the proverbial water cooler scattering when the victim approaches. We all have had the painful romantic breakup, where shunning is the horrible aftermath. But possibly the most painful instances of ostracizing occur within families, which can completely change the life and reality of an individual. How do you survive the Shun? How do you avoid getting swept up in powerful peer pressure that encourages this type of abuse? Peppered with biting wit and overflowing with compassion, this book contains step-by-step instructions that can help lead victims, and perpetrators, on a path to healthier relationships.