Full Text

scandalmongering


Subject Psychology

DOI: 10.1111/b.9780631170488.1995.x


Extract

A modality of communication in which one person expresses a negative judgement to another about a third person. This judgement may be based on objective facts or derived from information which, when taken together, lead to the establishment of a negative opinion. The comment thus made about the person who is the subject of the scandalmongering possesses a dimension of denigration, if not indeed of defamation. Scandalmongering is, from the point of view of content, intermediate between calumy (or slander) and mere gossip (see triadic questioning ). It may have particularly powerful group effects, if not indeed noxious effects in the designation of scapegoats and by creating rumours (Morin, 1973) which are amplified by self-maintenance (the phenomenon of percolation in which, beyond a certain threshold, all the communication pathways of a group of mutually trusting persons are invaded by the same opinion). (See also disclosure ; family myth s; forgetting; information; nostalgia; transgenerational memories. ) j.m. ... log in or subscribe to read full text

Log In

You are not currently logged-in to Blackwell Reference Online

If your institution has a subscription, you can log in here:

 

     Forgotten your password?

Find out how to subscribe.

Your library does not have access to this title. Please contact your librarian to arrange access.

Table of Contents

The Dictionary of Family Therapy



[ access key 0 : accessibility information including access key list ] [ access key 1 : home page ] [ access key 2 : skip navigation ] [ access key 6 : help ] [ access key 9 : contact us ] [ access key 0 : accessibility statement ]

Blackwell Publishing Home Page

Blackwell Reference Online ® is a Blackwell Publishing Inc. registered trademark
Technology partner: Semantico Ltd.

Copyright

Blackwell Publishing and its licensors hold the copyright in all material held in Blackwell Reference Online. No material may be resold or published elsewhere without Blackwell Publishing's written consent, save as authorised by a licence with Blackwell Publishing or to the extent required by the applicable law.

Back to Top