Around the Watercooler

Exploring the psychology of rumors.

Nicholas DiFonzo is Professor of Psychology at Rochester Institute of Technology and author of The Watercooler Effect: A Psychologist Explores the Extraordinary Power of Rumors. See full bio

October 29, 2008

Political Rumors in the 2008 Election.

The 2008 election has seen a plethora of false, derogatory and damaging rumors. Some of the most common falsehoods: Barack Obama is a Muslim. Sarah Palin is Trig's grandmother. John McCain had an affair with an attractive lobbyist. Read More

October 20, 2008

To Rumor Is Human

The Snopes family is a fictitious collection of characters from the novels of American author William Faulkner. The Snopes are a populous and pernicious lot—in true Faulkner style, they include arsonists, bigamists, con-men, extortionists, and usurers. Read More

Media Basics

From the ever-expanding Googleverse to the snarky payoff of celebrity gossip, life is splintered and refracted in a million ways by contemporary communication tools. This media has a profound impact on how we perceive ourselves and our world.

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Around the Watercooler

Political Rumors in the 2008 Election.

To Rumor Is Human

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