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Question: Describe and compare the Social Comparison and Evolutionary Perspectives of the Functionality of Gossip.
Answer: Gossiping occurs across the world in every culture, some people just see it as pointless but there are psychologists that believe it holds some important functions for us to be able to live the way that we do, although the views of these functions differ across the many different areas of Psychology. According to some psychologists all gossip involves Social comparison due to the fact that it is an evaluative type of talking (Salovey, 2004). To understand our position and role in the world we need to understand how the world works around us and so need to learn which norms and values to use.
Social comparison is the act in which we compare ourselves to another, this other maybe imaginary or they may actually exist. They can also be part of our group or an outsider. There are many reasons as to why we compare ourselves and gossip appears to be a key practice needed to carry out these ...(short extract)
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- Subject: Psychology
- Course: Language and Communication
- Level: Degree
- Year: Not applicable
- Mark: Not available
- Words: 1934
- Date submitted: October 15, 2012
- Date written: Not available
- References: Yes
- Document type: Essay*
- Essay ID: 4314
