In this article, I’m going to share with you the psychology of rumors and how to deal with gossip. Mass panic is sometimes generated by not very reliable information. Rumors of price hikes or government action could have global repercussions. But even in everyday life, meeting with gossip can greatly spoil the mood. The psychology of rumors is such that it is possible and necessary to fight them. Otherwise, gossip can ruin relationships both in the team and in family life.
Where Do Rumors Come From?
Rumors are unreliable information about someone or something that is spread orally.
Rumors can arise at the request of an individual or a group of individuals. The reason for launching rumors is often dissatisfaction with oneself and envy.
This may be a way of competing for a higher place on the career ladder or a simple resentment with a desire to spoil the life of another.
The ground for the emergence of gossip is different. Some completely invent circumstances, while others take reliable information as a basis and deliberately distort it.
But there are rumors that appear spontaneously. Remember the game “Deaf Phone”. One said the second misunderstood and passed it on to the third. The third heard something else again, and so on down the chain. As a result, reliable information turns into a completely unreliable rumor. Moreover, the more people in the chain, the more absurd the result may be. And at the same time, all participants will be sure that they are telling the truth.
In order not to become a participant in the emergence of rumors, you do not need to transfer information without verification. Even if you hear it from someone you completely trust.
Not a single person is immune from falling into the auditory epicenter, and in this case, it does not matter whether gossip was deliberately spread or it was an accident. It is important to resist them.
How to deal with rumors?
Avoiding the spread of gossip if they are already walking between acquaintances is difficult, but possible. Stick to the rules:
- Don’t wall yourself off from the problem. Do not pretend that you do not know about the rumors. This is not the case when it is better to follow the example of an ostrich. So the rumors will develop and reach the point of absurdity.
- Keep calm. Difficult? Yes, but at least outwardly do not show your reaction. Otherwise, spiteful critics will be happy. Perhaps your calm air will make spreading rumors uninteresting.
- Don’t answer gossip with gossip. Although it is said that a wedge is kicked out with a wedge, spreading rumors will not add love and respect to you.
- Talk to the person who is spreading rumors about you. Try to understand the cause of the ill-wisher. Perhaps you yourself are inadvertently to blame for the situation. Or perhaps the person was simply deceived. If finding a source is difficult, then do not waste time on this. Finding out the relationship and suspicion towards others will not improve the relationship.
If possible, tell the truth about yourself. Not as an excuse, but to stop misinformation
Becoming the object of gossip is very unpleasant, but making a tragedy out of it is also wrong. Rumors are usually short-lived. To reduce the negative effects of gossip, increase your self-esteem and surround yourself with reliable friends who will not believe any rumors and will stand up for you.
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