In either case, the rumor helps people actively or emotionally prepare for negative events, or to defend against threats to their selfesteem. His major point was the understanding of the process and the reasoning behind rumors. Definition of rumor rumor is a special case of informal social communications including myth, legend and current humor. A mead project source page originally published as. This article attempts to systematize the field of rumor, its causes and consequences with an eye to the problem of rumor control. Allport, the chief founder of the psychological study of personality and the informal dean of american psychologists during his lifetime, was born in montezuma, indiana. The erroneous descriptions have found their way into the legal literature, apparently as the results of legal scholars. His theory of personality, which rejected both freudian psychology and behaviorism, emphasized the uniqueness of the individual and the need to treat problems in terms of present. Allport, including the nature of prejudice, and becoming. Laws of rumor makers behaviors are the root of curbing rumor and effective way to block rumor occurrence. Allport and postman called their most farreaching assertion the basic law of rumor. Developments are discussed that shaped the conceptualization of the psychology of rumor. We provide an overview of the type and trait theory of personality as developed by this famous psychologist.
Allport and postman used three terms to describe the movement of rumor. The psychology of rumor gordon willard allport, leo joseph. View the article pdf and any associated supplements and figures for a period of 48 hours. Allport also was concerned with racial and religious prejudice. He contributed to the formation of values scales and rejected both a psychoanalytic approach to personality, which he thought often was. From myth and legend it is distinguished by its emphasis on the topical where humor is designed to provoke laughter, rumor begs for beliefs. Selves can only exist in definite relationships to. As a visiting consultant at the university of natal in south africa in 1956, allport predicted that the white supremacist cultures of. Article information, pdf download for allport, gordon w. Formerly in charge of rumor control for the massachusetts committee of. Oct 12, 2014 gordon allport psychology of individual 1.
An analysis of rumor public opinion quarterly oxford academic. Gordon willard allport spent nearly his entire academic career at harvard, completing both his bachelors degree and his phd at the university, and serving as a faculty member from 1930 1967. In the psychology of rumor, allport and postman define it as follows. In their book psychology of rumor, allport and postman. Therefore, based on system dynamics model, this paper proposed the rumors behavior evolution model of rumor makers, aimed at discovering the laws of rumor makers behaviors to achieve rumors blocking.
A rumor, as we shall use the term, is a specific or topical proposition for belief, passed along from person to person, usually by word of mouth, without secure standards of evidence being present. Knapp attempts to systematize the field of rumor its causes and consequenceswith an eye to the problem of rumor control. This helped convince allport that depth psychology often erred in slighting manifest motives in favor of probing the unconscious for hidden motives. In the interim between world wars, rumor received attention from the social scientist. Thus, after establishing a framework for personality theory, allport increasingly emphasized the importance of applying psychology to a range of social issues, and he pioneered studies in prejudice, values and attitudes, social rumor, communication media, and civilian morale in wartime.
In the social sciences, a rumor involves a form of a statement whose veracity is not quickly or ever confirmed. It declared that rumor strength r will vary with the importance of the subject to the individual concerned i times the ambiguity. Full text full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version. Postman, depart ment of psychology, harvard university, cambridge. He rejected two of the dominant schools of thought in psychology at the time, psychoanalysis and behaviorism, in favor of his own approach that stressed the importance of individual differences and situational variables. Of all published articles, the following were the most read within the past 12 months. Allport was one of the first psychologists to focus on the study of the personality, and is often referred to as one of the founding figures of personality psychology. Social psychology selves can only exist in definite. Allport and leo postman 1947, the impetus for which was their concern about the damage to morale and national safety caused by menacing rumors spreading needless alarm and raising extravagant hopes p. A rumor is always about some particular person, happening, or condition. Basic considerations for a psychology of personality the terry lectures series, and more on. Rumor discussions are thus collective sensemaking and threatmanagement efforts. He came east to study at harvard university, and, while doing social work as an undergraduate, discovered that, in order to help people deal effectively with their. The psychology of rumor is an important book for every socialogy or psychology student, and it must become more avalible.
Gordon allport was born in montezuma, indiana, in 1897, the youngest of four brothers. The psychology of rumor gordon willard allport, leo postman on. Research on behavior model of rumor maker based on system. Formerly in charge of rumor control for massachusetts committee of public safety the author has probably been as intimately connected with this field as any social scientist ever has. Leveling refers to the loss of detail during the transmission process. First, by refining the driving factors in disinformation behavior, we constructed. The psychology of rumor textbook binding june 1, 1965 by gordon willard allport author, leo postman author 5. A rumor american english or rumour british english. The measurement of consistent patterns of habit in an individuals behavior, thoughts, and emotions. Jan 18, 2017 definition of rumor rumor is a special case of informal social communications including myth, legend and current humor. The theory is based on the stability of traits over time, how they differ from other individuals, and how they will influence human behavior. Social psychology gordon allport 1985 defined social psychology as an attempt to understand and explain how the thoughts, feelings, and behavior of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined, and implied presence of others. Get a printable copy pdf file of the complete article 2.
Allport, professor of psychology in the department of social relations, and leo postman, instructor of psychology, both at harvard university, present answers to some of these questions. Rumors in wartime of this subject matter in the lives of individ ual members of the group. When he returned to the united states in 1924, allport was appointed to. Allport and leo postman 1947, the impetus for which was their concern about the damage to morale and. Mar 31, 2020 gordon allport was a pioneering psychologist often referred to as one of the founders of personality psychology. World war ii saw a burst of interest in the psychology of rumor and rumor control. Although most people use gossip and rumor interchangeably, they are different. At a time when behaviorism held sway in psychology departments in the u. A psychology of rumor 23 more subject than the formal modes of transmission to inaccuracy and capricious distortion. A psychology of rumor, public opinion quarterly 8 1, pags. In the psychological literature on eyewitness testimory, the classic allport and postman 1945, 1947 study of rumor has consistently been described inaccurately.
Understanding gordon allports trait theory of personality. Social psychology has in fact grown up largely through the labors of the sociologists. In their book psychology of rumor, allport and postman 1947 also formulated the basic law of rumor, in which the. A shy and studious boy, he was teased quite a bit and lived a fairly isolated childhood. In the inaccurate accounts both the procedures and implications of the study have been substantially distorted. Gordon allport was a pioneering psychologist often referred to as one of the founders of personality psychology. Reviewed in the united states on november 17, 2011. Psychology in general, and social psychology in particular, are thus foundation sciences of sociology. Gordon allport psychology of individual linkedin slideshare. One of the first psychologists to study personality, allport researched human attitudes, prejudices, and religious beliefs.
His theory of personality, which rejected both freudian psychology and behaviorism, emphasized the uniqueness of the individual and. If you have access to a journal via a society or association membership, please browse to your society journal, select an article to view, and follow the instructions in this box. He contributed to the formation of values scales and rejected both a psychoanalytic approach to personality, which he thought often went too deep, and a behavioral approach. According to psychologist gordon allport, social psychology is a discipline that uses scientific methods to understand and explain how the thoughts, feelings, and behavior of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied the presence of other human beings. Pdf this study takes a soft scientific cut to talks about rumors, hoaxes and urban legends.
The psychology of rumor hardcover january 1, 1947 by gordon w. Gordon willard allport november 11, 1897 october 9, 1967 was an american psychologist. It is a mistake, however, to suppose, as some have done, that it is a branch of sociology rather than of psychology. An analysis of rumor public opinion quarterly oxford.
Department of psychology, harvard university, cambridge. Gordon allport was one of the pioneer trait theorists who attempted to list the traits that make an individuals personality. Knapp to decry the ravages of rumor mongering is one thing. His 1954 book, the nature of prejudice, was a milestone study. One of the more interesting readings in behrens and rosens wrting and reading across the curriculum was a psychology of rumor by robert h.
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