GOSSIP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

GOSSIP - Essay ExampleFor Dunbar (2004), gossips function is to weed out unscrupulous individuals which, in turn, helps the species to propagate. These two theories argon examined in depth below. The source theory that will be examined is unmatchable put forth by Wert and Salovey in their article A Social Comparison Account of Gossip (Wert & Salovey, 2004). Wert & Salovey state that gossip has a function in loving comparison theory, which states that we, as human beings, have a need to oppose ourselves to others, because, by doing this, we are evaluating ourselves by actual, objective criteria (Wert & Salovey, 2004, p. 123). Wert & Saloveys theory is helpful to understand why volume gossip in a negative way, despite the fact that such gossip whitethorn backfire on the gossiper because the people hearing the gossip may feel threatened because the gossiper probably negatively talks active the hearer in the same way (Kurland & Pelled, 2000, p. 429). The six types of this diversit y of social comparison, and how gossip functions in each, are defined below. The first kind of comparison examined is the comparison with homogeneous others. Gossip serves a function is this kind of comparison, because individuals are trying to figure out how to behave and act, and how not to behave and act, by comparing themselves to these similar peers. ... This kind of comparison is sought to make people feel better about themselves as in thinking my life isnt great, but look at that individual my life certainly could condense worse (Wert & Salovey, 2004, p. 125). Gossiping serves a purpose in this kind of comparison, because it provides a way to indirectly compare wizself to others who are less fortunate or less skilled then oneself, and this bolsters ones self-esteem (Wert & Salovey, 2004, p. 125). The third type of social comparison is the upward social comparison, in which one compares oneself to others higher on the proverbial totem pole. One of the functions of this k ind of gossip is to tear down the wealthy person if one does not have a chance to attain the wealth for oneself, and this can result from a feeling of injustice, in that the person does not deserve his or her wealth(Wert & Salovey, 2004, p. 127). The fourth type is in-group and out-group comparisons. This is a true them v. us comparison. In this case, gossip serves the purpose of making the out-group seem negative, in order to bolster the in-group, and the individuals intellect of identity that comes from belonging to the in-group (Wert & Salovey, 2004, pp. 127-128). It also establishes who is and who is not a part of the group, as well as establishing the norms for the in-group (Wert & Salovey, 2004, p. 128). Baumeister et al., (2004) refers to this as gossip as cultural learning, in that people in a given culture may learn more about their own culture by relating the successes and failures of others, both within and without that culture (Baumeister et al, 2004, p. 120). cerebra te to in-group and out-group comparisons is the fifth type of social comparison, which is constructed social comparisons, in which an