Knowra Rumor Rumor A report or claim that circulates among people without its truth being established. Rumors spread through communication networks and may later prove true, false, or unverifiable.
Rumor transmission : The process by which an unverified report passes from person to person or across communication networks. Transmission explains how a claim becomes widespread without independent confirmation.
Great Fear : A wave of panic and rural unrest in France during the summer of 1789, driven by fears of aristocratic plots. The Great Fear shows how circulating reports of threats helped ignite collective action.
Gordon Allport : An American psychologist whose work with Leo Postman helped establish the modern study of rumor. Allport analyzed rumor transmission and proposed a formula linking it to importance and ambiguity.
Gossip : Informal talk about the personal affairs of people who are absent. Gossip centers on people and their reputations; rumors can concern any uncertain claim.
Moral panic : Intense public concern that a person, group, or condition threatens society's values or safety. Rumors can supply vivid claims that help a moral panic gather force.
Information cascade : A process in which people adopt a belief or action by observing others, potentially ignoring their own information. Visible repetition can make a rumor seem credible even when evidence is absent.
Rumor in wartime : The circulation of unverified claims among civilians and soldiers during armed conflict. Wartime censorship, danger, and disrupted communication create conditions ripe for rumor.
Leo Postman : An American psychologist who collaborated with Gordon Allport on foundational research into rumor. Postman's experiments examined how details change as stories pass between people.
Urban legend : A contemporary story, often presented as true, that circulates widely and typically has uncertain origins. Urban legends are narrative forms, while rumors may be brief claims without a full story.
Reputation : The beliefs or judgments that others hold about a person, group, or institution. A rumor can damage reputation even after it is disproved or forgotten.
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