Rumors are one of the types of communication associated with spontaneous collective behavior. Rumors are usually unreliable, negative, and transmitted through oral speech.
Instructions
Step 1
Most often, rumors arise at moments associated with uncertain situations. Since people are afraid of the unknown, they have guesses about what is really going on. In the process of exchanging guesses, rumors are born.
Step 2
Such rumors can be divided into the following types: a dream-rumor, which is built on the individual's hopes for a positive resolution of the situation; rumor-scarecrow - in contrast to the rumor-dream, it embodies the predisposition of people to the negative consequences of events; hearing-separator - has as its purpose to set up some social groups against others. All of these types of rumors help people adapt to the situation and the changes taking place, and also defuse their emotions.
Step 3
Rumors can be created on purpose. In this case, they will target a specific person or a group of people. The purpose of such rumors may be defamation or the desire to create a sensation to attract attention. Most often, gossip takes over this function. Gossip is a special mechanism for shaping public opinion, based on the transmission of inaccurate or deliberately false information about popular personalities. This type of rumor is interesting to many, as it satisfies certain information needs.
Step 4
Passing from person to person, hearing changes: part of the information is lost, and part is embellished with new details.
Step 5
Most often, people with an increased level of anxiety, or people who seek to demonstrate superiority in the possession of information, are susceptible to creating and spreading rumors. A person's anxiety affects his desire to quickly understand the situation, deal with it and decide how to proceed further. Superiority in the possession of information is a means of increasing status.
Step 6
Also, this method of communication is used by people with the need to belong to any social group. Rumors can be a source of entertainment.
Step 7
Rumors are best perceived by people who have heightened suggestibility and are unable to think critically.
Step 8
Rumors are an informal channel of communication in an organization, most often between people of equal status. Usually they are subordinates. The main sources of rumor in the company can be a delay in making an important decision on the part of the management, "information leakage" or ambiguous official information on any occasion. Also, the reason for the appearance of rumors can be interpersonal conflict.
