Shunning

The shunning of an individual is the act of deliberately avoiding association with him or her. The historical punishments of ostracism and exile were forms of shunning. Today, shunning in an official, formalized manner is practiced by only a few religions, although it continues to be practiced informally in every sort of human grouping or gathering. Religious shunning is often referred to as excommunication.

Related Topics:
Ostracism - Exile - Excommunication

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A distinct practice sometimes confused with shunning involves the severing of ties between new members and those of their friends and family who disapprove of the faith. Scientologists coined the word disconnection to refer to that practice. This is also known as Parental Alienation Syndrome in the psychological literature when used to separate children from parents.

Related Topics:
Scientologist - Disconnection

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Shunning aims to protect a group from members who have committed acts seen as harmful to the shunning organization, or who violate the group's norms. Shunning is also intended to punish such members' disobedience to church teachings, coerce them back into obedient membership and silence those who decline ad infinitum. As the practice may end marriages, break up families, and separate children from their parents (or vice versa), it is particularly controversial.

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