Nomden, Vera (2023) Some things are better left unsaid: A vignette study on gossip triads and affective interdependence. Master thesis, Sociology.
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Master Thesis Vera Nomden 21-3-2023.pdf Download (1MB) | Preview |
Abstract
The functions of gossiping are well known. Yet less attention has been given to how relationships in a gossip triad influence people’s tendency to gossip. How does a relationship of affective interdependence, like friendship, affect people’s goals and motivations to gossip? And especially: which relations make people refrain from gossiping? In this online vignette study, the participants (n=123) were presented with hypothetical situations for which they were asked if they would share negative information about the gossip object. Relationships between the object, sender and receiver of a gossip item were manipulated to investigate possible differences in behaviour. Furthermore, open questions were asked to reveal why people do and do not gossip and whom they prefer to gossip with and about. Data were analysed with Repeated Measures ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) and thematic analysis. Results showed that people prefer not to gossip about their friends because of the possible risk of hurting them or losing their friendship. People are more likely to gossip about an acquaintance because of the emotional distance of the relationship. Gossiping about the friend of the receiver is also less likely; yet only in the leisure context and not in the workplace. When people do gossip, they prefer to do this with their friends since they trust them and can get good advice about the situation. When these dyads get combined, differences appear between the leisure and workplace social contexts. This paper concludes that gossip behaviour has a great variety of motivations. Gossip motivations depend on how the people of interest are related to each other and in what context the interaction takes place.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
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| Supervisor name: | Giardini, F. and Duijn, M.A.J. van |
| Degree programme: | Sociology |
| Differentiation route: | Social Networks In A Sustainable Society [Master Sociology] |
| Date Deposited: | 30 Mar 2023 10:57 |
| Last Modified: | 30 Mar 2023 10:57 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/1861 |
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