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RUMOR PROCESS AND ITS EFFECT ON CIVIL DISORDERS

NCJ Number
2607
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 38 Issue: 4 Dated: (APRIL 1971) Pages: 16-17,20,22,24,26,28,30 & 32
Author(s)
E T FITZGERALD
Date Published
1971
Length
9 pages
Annotation
FOOTNOTED PAPER ON RUMOR AS SEEN BY PSYCHOLOGIST, HISTORIAN, PSYCHIATRIST AND SOCIOLOGIST. PROPOSALS FOR CONTROL OF RUMOR.
Abstract
PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS FOR RUMORS ARE SOUGHT IN THIS STUDY. EXAMPLES OF RUMOR CONSTRUCTION THROUGH INACCURATE TRANSMISSION ARE CITED. THERE IS A DISCUSSION ON THE REASONS FOR AND FORMS OF RUMOR ACTIVITY, AND MANY EXAMPLES ARE GIVEN OF CRITICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL SITUATIONS IN WHICH PEOPLE WOULD BE PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO RUMOR. THE ROLE OF THE MASS MEDIA IN GENERATING AND TRANSMITTING RUMORS IS ANALYZED AND VARIOUS REMEDIES FOR THE PARTIAL SUPPRESSION OF RUMOR ARE RECOMMENDED.