The Impact of Negative Gossip on Target and Receiver. A “Big Two” Analysis

Hauke N, Abele-Brehm A (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Basic and Applied Social Psychology Taylor & Francis (Routledge): STM, Behavioural Science and Public Health Titles / Taylor & Francis (Psychology Press)

DOI: 10.1080/01973533.2019.1702881

Abstract

Negative gossip can negatively influence the gossip target as well as the gossip receiver. Building on the “Big Two” of agency and communion and their facets of assertiveness and competence (agency) and warmth and morality (communion), we show in three studies that negative gossip based on these four types of content differentially affect targets’ and receivers’ reactions. Targets’ identity threat was particularly high after negative assertiveness and warmth gossip, their reputation threat and their negative affect were especially high after negative morality gossip. Receivers’ impressions of and negative affect toward the target were most negative after negative morality gossip. Findings are discussed with respect to the Big Two framework and with respect to the target versus receiver perspective in social cognition.

Authors with CRIS profile

Nicole Hauke-Forman Lehrstuhl für Sozialpsychologie mit Schwerpunkt Gender und Diversity Andrea Abele-Brehm Lehrstuhl für Sozialpsychologie mit Schwerpunkt Gender und Diversity

How to cite

APA:

Hauke, N., & Abele-Brehm, A. (2019). The Impact of Negative Gossip on Target and Receiver. A “Big Two” Analysis. Basic and Applied Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/01973533.2019.1702881

MLA:

Hauke, Nicole, and Andrea Abele-Brehm. "The Impact of Negative Gossip on Target and Receiver. A “Big Two” Analysis." Basic and Applied Social Psychology (2019).

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