Sometimes you notice that one of your people is left out of conversations, eats lunch alone, or doesn't seem to have a friend in the department. Is that any of your business? Consider this:

Psychologists at Case Western Reserve University say interpersonal rejection can dramatically reduce the capacity for intelligent thought. It is so apparent to researchers that they wonder if reasoning skills evolved to help us navigate the complexities of social life rather than help us solve technical problems.

After taking a personality test in one study, one group of subjects was told they would die alone. The other group was told to expect lasting friendships. Subjects who thought they would have a solitary life were significantly impaired in performing complex reasoning tasks. They were also slower and less accurate in their responses to a timed IQ test.

The doctors' report, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, said the effect was similar to the cognitive impairment caused by head injuries. In a related study, rejected people took greater risks and made more unhealthy choices rather than taking better care of themselves.

Study leaders conclude that excluded individuals are so busy trying to suppress emotional distress that they are unable to engage in controlled thinking.

If you can arrange to include a socially rejected employee in more socialized activities, you could be rewarded with one who thinks better and works better.

 About the Author:  Monique Danielle owns Portland Marketing Agency  DivaDesignWorld.com, a full service firm that offers web development, graphic design, consulting, and a wide variety of creative services.  She is also the founder of divadirectories.com, a free online resource designed to promote the growth and development of female business owners throughout Oregon, Washington, and the Northwest.