Gossip Dies When It Reaches An Intelligent Person’s Ear
The process always seems to go the same way: it is a hypocrite who starts a rumor, so that the gossiper will spread it and the naive person will believe it without question. This rumor epidemic only ends when it finally reaches an intelligent person’s ear, the vaccinated heart that does not follow or respond to things that do not make sense.
In a book published in 1947 by social psychologist Gordon Allport, entitled The Psychology of Rumors , he explains something very interesting to us: gossip serves to create a sense of connection between different groups of people and to take a stand against someone. At the same time, these behaviors bring joy, release endorphins and help fight stress.
In many cases, gossip becomes a social control mechanism that gives some power to the one who does it. It makes them the center of attention for the group of people who are susceptible to any reputation, to all kinds of misinformation. This they can use to escape from their routine and take advantage of the new stimulus as a kind of distraction.
As anyone can tell you, gossipers do not know how to be happy. They are too anxious to camouflage their bitterness in vain, unnecessary tasks to try to validate their self-esteem.
The psychology of insatiable gossip
For example, let’s think about how quickly a reputation, grounded or unfounded, begins to become “contagious” in the world of social networking. The Internet has already become like a veritable brain where data takes us home as interconnected neurons, giving us information that is not always true or respectful of others.
When it comes to marketing and advertising experts, they always seem to set the example of the “Tropical Fantasy” drink for “deadly and insatiable gossip.” This drink was released on the market in 1990, and had almost immediate success in the United States, to a reputation that was as frightening as it was absurd suddenly appeared.
It was said that these cheap drinks had been created by the Ku Klux Klan with a very specific goal in mind. Their low cost would allow a large portion of the African-American population with limited resources to access it. At the same time, hidden in its formula, was a very dark goal: to reduce the quality of African-American men’s semen so that they could not have more children.
No one knows who started this would rumor or why, but the impact was catastrophic. It took many years for the “Tropical Fantasy” brand to recover, and as a result, they are always sure to include pictures of African-Americans enjoying their drink in their commercials even today.
It did not matter how bad the rumor was, how unfounded or how harmful it was, because it managed to attack the sensitivity of a group. Even when you know it’s not true, the emotional stamp remains. This is a clear example of one of the rumors that has left the biggest mark.
To defend ourselves from gossip and rumors
Whether we like it or not, our society is based on power relations where gossip and rumors are true project weapons. Manipulated truths are useful to many people. They help them reach higher positions, and they provide very concrete benefits.
So then it is necessary for us to always be the intelligent ear that will act as a barrier, stopping the insult, the meaninglessness, the false information and the spark from the fire that always longs to sweep away someone.
As a result, and to understand these psychological processes that are so common in our societal contexts a little better, we suggest that you consider the pillars that perpetuate the psychological complex of gossip, the one who gossips and the naive person who follows them.
Popular wisdom always tells us that to cut a link, we just have to get rid of it. If rumors and gossip seem like real viruses in the work environment, in our family or in our social circles, it is necessary to have trusting people who help us so that they act as a floodgate. So that they act as intelligent ears to disarm things that do not make sense.
Rumors spread when there are some who want to gain fame at our expense. When faced with this behavior, we can act in two ways: either by letting the absurd fall on deaf ears or by acting confidently, setting boundaries, and being clear about things.
We must be aware that in every organization, social group and every neighborhood, there will be an official “rumor spreader”, a gossip lover.
We must always show integrity, be transparent, and not feed this kind of behavior by giving in to the virus of rumors or gossip. Therefore, it is also necessary to know that it is not easy to discredit the reputation; Words are not always enough. We need compelling facts to discredit and show how untrue the rumor is.
Gossiping tongues will always be present in one way or another, so it will always be best to avoid these and remember that rumors are for “riffraff” and information for wise ears.
