Boosting our self esteem: A need to gossipKristine Barnes-MeyersDawn Mohar

Research Background

• Gossip can be used to remind the group members that it is important to follow the group’s norms and values (McAndrew, Bell, & Garcia, 2007)

• It has been shown that if any individual of a group steps out of line it can affect the group as a whole (Hopman &Leeuwen, 2009)

• Gossip has been used to have a feeling of control and to manipulate and control others’ reputations (McAndrew, Bell, & Garcia, 2007; Watson & MacEwan, 2011)

• Gossip is used as an evolutionary tool, to get rid of the weak individuals in order to strengthen the group as a whole (McAndrew, Bell, & Garcia, 2007)

Research Background (Cont.)

• There are three major approaches to the gossip theory:• Sociological/anthropological – focuses on the group but

states that the individual brings his own interests and needs• Social psychology – focuses on what the individual will

gain from participating in gossip (status, power, entertainment)

• Individual Approach – focuses on gossip as a reflection of the persons inner unconscious life. Considers gossip a defense mechanism

(Watson & MacEwan, 2011)

Previous Research Concludes…

• People tend to care more about gossip that pertains to those of the same sex (McAndrew, Bell, & Garcia, 2007)

• People tend to share gossip with their allies rather than non-allies (McAndrew, Bell, & Garcia, 2007)

• A low status group will gossip more to the “in group” to be more loyal to the “in group” (Hopman & Leeuwen, 2009)

• A high status group will gossip more to the “out-group” to be more loyal to the “in group” (Hoppman & Leeuwen, 2009)

• Gossip is used by those with low self esteem and self efficacy in order to gain control, clarity, and power (Watson & MacEwan, 2011)

• Gossip is a status enhancing mechanism (Watson & MacEwan, 2011)

Study Goals

• Study the relationship between an individual’s self esteem and his/her likelihood to gossip.

• Like previous research studies, our study will focus on the type of gossip that a person is most likely to share and with whom they are most likely to share it.

• Unlike previous studies, our study will focus on how self esteem relates to the likelihood of an individual to gossip.• Most previous research focused on gossip as a way to move

up the social ladder.

Hypothesis

• Women with low self esteem gossip more than women with high self esteem.

• Women with low self esteem will be more open to who they share gossip with whereas women with high self esteem will only gossip with their close friends.

• Men are less likely to gossip regardless of their self-esteem level.

Target Population

• Gwynedd-Mercy college students (undergraduate)• 86 students took the survey• 12 were discarded due to missing data• The remaining data included:• 44 Female• 30 Male

• Students from multiple majors• Criminal justice• Psychology• Nursing

Measures

• Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale• 10 statements about

an individuals worth• Four rankings:

strongly agree, agree, disagree, strongly disagree

• Three categories:• Love/relationships• Academic• Social

• Each category will have three scenarios:• One outrageous scenario• One moderately scandalous scenario • One dull scenario

• Four follow up questions:• How likely are you to tell a friend?• How likely are you to tell many friends?• How likely are you to tell a rival?• How likely are you to tell a person of

authority?

Scenarios…

• Love/Relationships• You find out that someone is cheating on their significant other with a

same sex partner• You witness someone you know cheating on their significant other. • You find out someone you know has recently started dating a new

person. • Academic• You witness a student engaging in consensual inappropriate sexual

behavior with a teacher to get good grades.• You witness a person that you know cheating on a final exam.• You find out your friend was the only one to get a 4.0 in the class.

• Social• You find out someone was kicked out of class because they were

drinking alcohol out of a coffee cup in class.• You witness someone being bullied. • You witness college students drinking on campus.

Data Analysis

• The average self-esteem scores were calculated for both groups (male and female)

• The mean was discarded for each group in order to obtain a high and low self-esteem (10 discarded in total)• Average score for males was 15• Participants who had a score equal or less than 14 were in the

high self-esteem group• Participants who had a score equal or greater than 16 were in

the low self-esteem group• Average score for females was 17• Participants who had a score equal or less than 16 were in the

high self-esteem group• Participants who had a score equal or greater than 18 were in

the low self-esteem group

Female High Self-Esteem

Female Low Self-Esteem

Male High Self-Esteem

Male High Self-Esteem

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

RelationshipAcademicSocial

Female

High

Self-E

steem

Female

Low Self

-Este

em

Male H

igh Self

-Este

em

Male Low

Self-E

steem

7072747678808284

Average Gossip

Average Gossip

Discussion

• Females with low self-esteem tend to gossip more than those with high self-esteem

• Men with low self esteem tend to gossip more than those with high self-esteem

• Why?• Social status

• Limitations• A larger sample• Many of the participants were psychology students• The participants received both surveys at the same time

• Future Direction• It would be interesting to conduct this research in a high

school setting

References

• Hopman, P. & Leeuwen, E. V. (2009). Who d we inform? The role of status and target in intergroup whistle-blowing. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 12(5), 605-618. doi 10.1177/1368430209337472

• McAndrew, F. T., Bell, E. K., & Garcia, C. M. (2007). Who do we tell and whom do we tell on? Gossip as a strategy for status enhancement. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 37(7), 1562-1577. doi 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2007.00227.x

• Watson, D. C. & MacEwan, G. (2011). Gossip and the self. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 41(7), 1818-1833. doi 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2011.00772.x