Synthesis and analysis paper - Assignment Example

The major similarity amongst all these three rumor theories is that everything about a rumor is psychological and hence the reason why many tend to believe it to be true. They are a creation of the mind and hence can only be stopped by the mind once an individual or group loses their psychological perspective. The other similarity is that all the three authors agree that it is easier to spread than stop a rumor, once it is created it only grows and spreads even wider. Despite their similarities, the three rumor theories have their own differences.

Knapp’s theory for example explains that rumor are caused and driven by an emotion humans may be having. These emotions are wish, fear as well as hostility (Behrens & Rosen 360). When an individual encounters any of the above emotions, he is bound to react through coming up with a rumor and spreading it to further protect and mask his true emotions. Unless the emotion behind the rumor is addressed, the rumors will keep on coming. DiFonzo however seems to differ about the source and cause of rumors.

He explains that rumors are a creation of society to serve either personal or social purpose. Once this purpose is served, then the rumor ceases until the next personal or social need occurs. The extent of the rumor and its magnitude depends on the personal or social level. This is the same across groups as well not only individuals. Sunstein believes that rumors work in a cascading manner where the more it is spreading, the more people it is pulling in and the faster it continues to spread. They originate small but continue to spread and increase to the level of people starting to believe them to be true despite the half-truths it holds most of the time.

He further indicates that this rumor can be used to effect positivity into humans in fields such as politics (Behrens & Rosen 390). There was a wide spread rumor a few years back through some of it