The mechanism always works the same way: there is a hypocrite who creates gossip so that gossip is spread and the naive create without resistance. The epidemic of rumors only ends when it finally reaches the ears of the intelligent person, who has this vaccinated heart that doesn’t respond or respond to what doesn’t make sense.
In the book published by social psychologist Gordon Allport, “The Psychology of Rumors,” he explains something really curious: gossip is for different groups of people to create cohesion with each other and position themselves in front of someone. In turn, these attitudes are pleasant, they release endorphins and help combat stress.
- In many cases.
- Gossip becomes a mechanism of social control that gives a kind of power to those who practice it.
- Being the person the center of attention of this collective.
- Always receptive to any gossip.
- To any information sesgada as a way out of their routine and enjoy this new stimulus as a distraction.
As is often said, gossip does not know how to be happy, it is too busy hiding its bitterness in unnecessary and superfluous tasks with which it unnecessarily validates his self-esteem.
The psychology of gossip and rumors is perfectly relevant today. Consider, for example, how quickly a well-founded or unfounded rumor arrives in the world of social media. The Internet is already like an authentic brain, where data functions as interconnected neurons to feed us information that is not always true or respectful of others.
Meanwhile, marketing and advertising experts continue to cite the case of “Tropical Fantasy” as an example of “fatal and relentless gossip. “Introduced in 1990, the soda was successful almost immediately in the United States, until a frightening and absurd rumor suddenly appeared.
These cheap soft drinks were supposedly created by the Ku Klux Klan for a very specific purpose: their low cost has allowed a large part of the low-income African-American population to access them, in turn, their formula concealed a dark goal: they damage the sperm quality of African-Americans so that they can no longer have children.
No one knows why or who lit the flame of this rumor, but the impact was deastrous. Tropical Fantasy? It took years to recover, to the point that even today they still include blacks enjoying the drink in their commercials.
As delusional, unfounded or malicious as the gossip itself, they managed to attack the sensitivity of a group that has since developed resistance to the consumption of this product, solely from an unfounded rumor. the impression persists This is a clear example of one of the most common gossip.
Like it or not, our society is built on power relations where gossip and rumors are real weapons, manipulated truths are useful for many people because they are able to position themselves with them and make very concrete profits.
Thus, we must always be intelligent ears that act as a barrier, that stop evil, that makes no sense, false information and the spark of that fire that always aims to take someone with him.
Therefore, and to better understand these psychological processes so common in our social contexts, we propose to take into account these pillars that underpin the complex psychology of gossip, gossip and naivety that you believe.
Popular wisdom has always told us that to break a sequence it is enough to delete a link, if rumors and gossip act as real viruses in our work environment, family or circle of acquaintances, it is necessary to surround yourself with people of trust who act as contention. Let them use their smart ears to disarm what doesn’t make sense.
Bad languages will always accompany us one way or another, so it’s best to always avoid being a part of it and remember that gossip is for the lowest and the information for wise ears.