Abstract: Interpersonal invisibility refers to the intentional or unintentional disregard of interactional subjects in social interaction, leading to cognitive, emotional, and behavioral disengagement or reduced engagement. Essentially, it embodies an implicit form of interpersonal devaluation and exclusion. Interpersonal invisibility is closely linked to social hierarchy, with individuals of lower social hierarchy being more susceptible to experiencing it. Theoretical perspectives such as sociocultural mechanisms, status hypothesis, the affordance-management theory, and intersectional invisibility theory serve as crucial frameworks for explaining this phenomenon. Future research needs to further refine the conceptualization and measurement of interpersonal invisibility, deepen theoretical investigations into interpersonal invisibility towards individuals of lower social status, explore the interaction between the social statuses of both interactants in interpersonal invisibility, address and intervene in the negative consequences resulting from interpersonal invisibility, and examine the unique effects of interpersonal invisibility from the perspective of Chinese culture.

Key words: interpersonal invisibility, social hierarchy, theoretical explanations, social interaction