Stay out of our office (vs. our pub): Target personality and situational context affect ostracism intentions

Personality characteristics can influence the likelihood of a person becoming a target of ostracism. Particularly, low agreeableness and low conscientiousness have been shown to increase the risk of being ostracized. Here, we investigate whether the situational context in which individuals interact moderates the effect that personality has on ostracism intentions. Within four studies, we show that low target agreeableness increases ostracism intentions more strongly in a social than in a performance context. In contrast, low target conscientiousness increases ostracism decisions more strongly in a performance compared to a social context. The results suggest that individuals make decisions about how to ostracize others strategically and in line with the goals of the respective group within a specific situational context. •Effects of target personality on ostracism intentions depend on situational context.•Low target agreeableness and low conscientiousness increase ostracism intentions.•Agreeableness affects ostracism intentions primarily in social contexts.•Conscientiousness affects ostracism intentions primarily in performance contexts.•Results imply that ostracism is often used strategically and goal-specifically.