What is the difference between rumour and gossip

Skip to main content. This service is more advanced with JavaScript available. Advertisement Hide. Rumours and Gossip as Genres of Communication. Keywords Bullshit cultural epidemiology genre gossip minimal counter-intuitiveness rumour serial reproduction method. This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access. They discuss the lives of others, new events, developments in relationships , etc. These refer to gossip; simply gossip can be defined as casual talk about other people.

Rumor, however, is a bit different to gossips. A rumor refers to a story spread among a number of people which is unconfirmed or maybe false. This is the key difference between the two. Through this article let us examine the differences between the two in detail.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, gossip can be defined as casual talk about other people. This act of engaging in gossip is referred to as gossiping. These are mostly general information that are discussed without a motive to harm any individual.

Let us comprehend this through an example. Some teens want to be in control and at the top of the social ladder. When kids are at the top of the social ladder or are determined to climb higher, they sometimes accomplish that by diminishing the status of another person. They also tend to use gossip and rumors to get back at someone who they feel deserves to be hurt. Making up a rumor or spreading gossip sometimes satisfies their need for revenge.

Research indicates that boredom is often the number one reason why teens spread rumors. As a result, they resort to rumors and gossip to spice things up and make life more exciting. When teens are being gossiped about or if someone is spreading rumors, there are a number of things that they can do to cope with it. For instance, your teen could stop dwelling on what other people are saying or go directly to the source and confront the issue.

The key is to find a way to address the gossiping and rumor spreading that is comfortable for your child. Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Front Psychol. Levesque RJR Editor. Encyclopedia of Adolescence. TeensHealth from Nemours. Someone is spreading rumors about me. Laugeson EA. Franklin L. Gender Macmillan Insights in Psychology series. Red Globe Press. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellFamily.

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