NCJ Number
17543
Date Published
1975
Length
406 pages
Annotation
EXAMINES THE ORIGIN OF RUMORS AND WHY THEY EMERGE IN CONNECTION WITH RACIAL DISORDERS.
Abstract
INCLUDED IS AN EXAMINATION AND CRITIQUE OF THE THREE MAJOR MODELS OF RUMOR FORMATION - THE PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH, EMPHASIZING THE EMOTIONAL NEEDS AND DRIVES OF THE INDIVIDUAL, THE FUNCTIONAL APPROACH WHICH VIEWS RUMORS AS A FORM OF IMPROVISED NEWS, AND THE CONSPIRATORIAL APPROACH WHICH SEES RUMORS AS DELIBERATELY PLANTED AND NOT SPONTANEOUS. THE INDIVIDUAL MERITS OF EACH MODEL ARE ACKNOWLEDGED BUT EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON THEIR GENERAL INADEQUACY WHEN APPLIED TO RIOT SITUATIONS. THE AUTHOR'S PROCESS MODEL IS BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT RUMORS CANNOT CAUSE VIOLENCE AND THAT VIOLENCE CANNOT CAUSE RUMORS. BOTH ARE VIEWED AS PARTS OF THE SAME PROCESS. BESIDES THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY GIVEN TO POLICE CHIEFS IN APPROPRIATE CITIES, HUNDREDS OF PERTINENT RUMORS ARE DOCUMENTED FROM LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AND INVESTIGATIVE ACCOUNTS, SOME OF WHICH ARE PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED. AN EXHAUSTIVE, SYSTEMATIC INQUIRY IS MADE INTO THE SERIES OF DISORDERS THAT OCCURRED BETWEEN 1967 AND 1970. THE ROLE PLAYED BY RUMORS DURING THESE DISTURBING TIMES IS EXAMINED AND COMPARED TO EARLIER PERIODS OF UNREST. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)