Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Psychology
Minor
Sociology
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Jana Hackathorn, PhD
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
Gossip can be defined as communication within a social context directed towards the evaluation of absent others (Foster, 2004), and likely evolved as an advantage for our ancestors to build social bonds and maintain group stability (Dunbar, 2004). The ubiquitous nature of gossip suggests significant influences on group dynamics, particularly when associated with factors related to social functions, such as influence, friendship, information, or entertainment (Foster, 2004; Peters et al., 2017; Wu et al., 2016). The current study examined the effects of gossip on the evaluations of absent targets. Undergraduate participants (N = 128) were presented with short biographies describing each of four types of group members (ingroup-deviant, ingroup-normative, outgroup-deviant, outgroup-normative), and were randomly assigned to read gossip (or not) about the target. The gossip included two positive statements and two negative statements. Following the information, participants rated each target on self-image, trustworthiness, likeability, and exemplary potential. Lastly, measures of group identification and functions of gossip were measured as potential influences on ratings. Results of a mixed-model ANOVA indicate a main effect of gossip (Wilks’ Λ = .88, F(4, 123) = 4.36, p = .002). Specifically, participants who read gossip about an absent target perceived the target more negatively than participants who did not read gossip. This might suggest that gossip can have negative effects on the target’s social identity, regardless of gossip type or group identification.
Keywords: gossip, social identity, group dynamics, social stability, group identification
Spring Scholars Week 2020 Event
Psychology: Completed Projects
Included in
(S)he said what behind my back: The negative effects of gossip
Gossip can be defined as communication within a social context directed towards the evaluation of absent others (Foster, 2004), and likely evolved as an advantage for our ancestors to build social bonds and maintain group stability (Dunbar, 2004). The ubiquitous nature of gossip suggests significant influences on group dynamics, particularly when associated with factors related to social functions, such as influence, friendship, information, or entertainment (Foster, 2004; Peters et al., 2017; Wu et al., 2016). The current study examined the effects of gossip on the evaluations of absent targets. Undergraduate participants (N = 128) were presented with short biographies describing each of four types of group members (ingroup-deviant, ingroup-normative, outgroup-deviant, outgroup-normative), and were randomly assigned to read gossip (or not) about the target. The gossip included two positive statements and two negative statements. Following the information, participants rated each target on self-image, trustworthiness, likeability, and exemplary potential. Lastly, measures of group identification and functions of gossip were measured as potential influences on ratings. Results of a mixed-model ANOVA indicate a main effect of gossip (Wilks’ Λ = .88, F(4, 123) = 4.36, p = .002). Specifically, participants who read gossip about an absent target perceived the target more negatively than participants who did not read gossip. This might suggest that gossip can have negative effects on the target’s social identity, regardless of gossip type or group identification.
Keywords: gossip, social identity, group dynamics, social stability, group identification