The Psychology of Tsismis: A Phenomenological Study About Housewives&rsquo; Gossip Engagement

Nissi  B. Suing,; Junelie  R. Gorospe,; Lawrence  M. Labto,; Junea Paula  D. Pinca,; Rodrigo  Tomas,

The Psychology of Tsismis: A Phenomenological Study About Housewives’ Gossip Engagement

Nissi B Suing | Junelie R Gorospe | Lawrence M Labto | Junea Paula D Pinca | Rodrigo Tomas

Discipline: Psychology

Abstract:

The act of gossiping, or "pakikipagtsismisan," is often observed in Filipino culture and pervasive throughout its society. This study explores the psychology of "tsismis" through the perspectives of housewives in selected areas of the National Capital Region (NCR) of the Philippines. Its aim is to investigate the phenomenon of "pakikipagtsismisan" within the Filipino community, particularly among housewives. The study also seeks to understand the motivations of participants for engaging in this activity, as well as the potential advantages and disadvantages they derive from it. A qualitative research design, specifically a phenomenological approach, was employed to explore this phenomenon. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 participants until saturation was reached. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the gathered data, revealing several themes that addressed the research questions posed by the study. "Tsismis" was found to be deeply ingrained in Filipino culture for these housewives, serving various purposes for them individually. Some participants viewed it as a form of entertainment, a source of information, a means of connecting with others, and even as a defense mechanism. Additionally, the results indicated that "tsismis" significantly impacts the well-being of these housewives.

References:

Anander, L. (2022, February 21). Rumors, gossip, and your health. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/balance/health-rumors-gossip
Deangelis, M., Bonezzi, A., Peluso, A. M., & Costabile, M. (2012). On Braggarts and Gossips: A Self-Enhancement Account of Word-of-Mouth Generation and Transmission. ResearchGate. https://doi.org/10.2307/41714446
Beck, J. (2014, November 6). Have you heard? Gossip is actually good and useful. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/11/have-you-heard-gossip-is-actually-good-and-useful/382430/
Daskal, L. (2014, June 16). To Gossip or Not to Gossip: That Is the Question. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-quest-meaning/201406/gossip-or-not-gossip-is-the-question
Foster, E. K. (2006). Gossip and network relationships. Relating difficulty: The processes of constructing and managing difficult interaction. APA PsycNet. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2006-03224-009
Foster, E. K. (2004). Research on Gossip: Taxonomy, methods, and future directions. Review of General Psychology, 8(2), 78–99. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.8.2.78
Fox, K. (2001). Evolution, alienation and gossip: The role of mobile telecommunications in the 21st century. Social Issues Research Centre. http://www.sirc.org/publik/gossip.shtml
Gallego, J. (2022, August 25). Tsismis: Paboritong libangan ng mga Pilipino. Philippine One. https://philippineone.com/tsismis-paboritong-libanangn-ng-mga-pilipino-123/
Prakash Srivastava (2021, December 27). Phenomenological Research: Methods and Examples. HARAPPA. https://harappa.education/harappa-diaries/phenomenological-research
Hartung, F., & Renner, B. (2013) Social curiosity and gossip: related but different drives of social functioning. PLOS ONE, 8(7), e69996. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0069996
Holland, K. (2022, June 21). 10 Defense mechanisms: What are they and how they help us cope. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/defense-mechanisms
Jolly, E., & Chang, L. J. (2021). Gossip drives vicarious learning and facilitates social connection. Current Biology, 31(12), 2539-2549.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.03.090
Khamis, J. (2018, August 17). Is gossip harmful in a society? Gulf News. https://gulfnews.com/going-out/society/is-gossip-harmful-in-a-society-1.2267450
Kreitler, S., & Kreitler, H. (2004). The motivational and cognitive determinants of defense mechanisms. Advances in psychology (pp. 195–238). https://doi.org/10.1016/s0166-4115(04)80035-9
Levine, D. (2024, February 20). Gossip boosts Self-Reflection. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gossip-boosts-self-reflection/
Maresca, E. (2020, January 1). Tsismis or gossip: Is it good for Filipinos? Italian Married To A Filipina. https://italpinoy1967.wordpress.com/2020/01/01/tsismis-or-gossip-is-it-good-for-filipinos/
Martinescu, E., Janssen, O., & Nijstad, B. A. (2014). Tell me the gossip. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 40(12), 1668–1680. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167214554916
Miller, K. D. (2019, August 16). What is Positive Gossip? Positive Psychology. https://positivepsychology.com/positive-gossip
Nekvapil, K. (2021, December 15). The importance of not gossiping. Linkedin. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/importance-gossiping-kemi-nekvapil/?trk=pulse-article_more-articles_related-content-card
Philippine Entertainment Portal. (2022, January 26). Ano raw? 5 Things we can all learn from Aling Marites. PEP.ph. https://www.pep.ph/guide/ano-raw-5-things-we-can-all-learn-from-aling-marites-adv-con
Pe-Pua, R., & Protacio-Marcelino, E. (2000). Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Filipino psychology): A legacy of Virgilio G. Enriquez. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 3(1), 49–71. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-839x.00054
Philstar Global. (2009, July 15). In your opinion, do most Filipinos tend to gossip? Philstar Global. https://www.philstar.com/inbox-world/2009/07/15/486648/your-opinion-do-most-filipinos-tend-gossip
Gorospe, S., & Regala, C. (2015). Pananaw ng mga Kababaihan sa Nueva Ecija Ukol sa Konsepto ng Tsismis 1 Bilang Gawi ng Pamumuhay: Isang Palarawang Pag-aaral at Pagsusuri. The Bedan Journal of Psychology 2015, II. https://www.academia.edu/11606991
Ro, C. (2018, December 11). Do we have gossip all wrong? BBC. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20181210-do-we-have-gossip-all-wrong
Tegan, G. (2023, May 31). What Are Credible Sources & How to Spot Them | Examples. Scribbr. https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/credible-sources/
Tan, M. (2016, February 26). ‘Tsismis’. Inquirer.net. https://opinion.inquirer.net/93207/tsismis