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Press Releases
New Luntz/Laszlo Poll Shows
51 Million Hurt by Gossip Each Week
63 Million Have Someone Lie About Them Weekly
117 Million Americans Gossip Each Week
- For more information call:
- Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi at 703-276-1604
or check www.WordsCanHeal.org
Washington, DC. A new Luntz/ Laszlo poll commissioned by the new non-profit WordsCanHeal.org shows a dramatic number of Americans suffer from gossip. The poll of 800 adults (margin or error +/- 3.5%) was conducted August 17-21, 2001. Numbers of Americans was calculated according to U.S. Census figures.
According to the poll:
- 117 million Americans listen to or share gossip about other people at least once or twice a week.
- 51 million Americans admit that people say something hurtful behind their backs at least once or twice a week.
- 63 million Americans admit that people say something untrue about them at least once or twice a week.
- Only 13 percent of Americans say that no one ever says anything hurtful about them behind their back.
- Only 7 percent of Americans say that no one ever says something untrue about them behind their back.
- 31 million Americans say something about someone behind their back that they regret later at least once or twice a week, and only 25% of Americans say they never say anything about someone behind their back that they regret later.
When asked how much of a problem is gossiping about other people:
- 69% of American adults say that it is a somewhat or significant problem in schools.
- 79% say it is a problem in the workplace.
- 80% say it is a problem in politics.
- 84% say it is a problem in reports given by the news media.
- 88% of Americans agree that it is important to reduce gossip and verbal abuse in schools, places of work, and within families.
According to Irwin Katsof, Co-Executive Director for WordsCanHeal.org, "This poll shows that gossip hurts millions of Americans every week. Millions of our citizens are both the perpetrators and the victims in a cycle of gossip that is hurting our nation. Our new campaign offers free educational tools for children, families and businesses in order to help heal our country."
This week WordsCanHeal.org will launch a new national effort to reduce verbal violence and gossip. The goal of the campaign is to promote the value and practice of ethical speech in order to improve our democracy, build mutual respect, honor and dignity in our country. The campaign will include posters, print and television.
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Questionnaire attached below.
1-4. How much of a problem is gossiping about other people in each of the following places or occasions....
| 1. Gossip in school |
| Total somewhat or significant problem: | 69%
|
| A VERY SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM | 38% |
| A SOMEWHAT SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM | 31% |
| NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL | 16% |
| DON'T KNOW/REFUSED (DNR) | 15% |
2. Gossip in the workplace |
| Total somewhat or significant problem: | 79%
|
| A VERY SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM | 43% |
| A SOMEWHAT SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM | 36% |
| NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL | 15% |
| DON'T KNOW/REFUSED (DNR) | 6% |
3. Gossip in politics |
| Total somewhat or significant problem: | 80%
|
| A VERY SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM | 56% |
| A SOMEWHAT SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM | 24% |
| NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL | 13% |
| DON'T KNOW/REFUSED (DNR) | 7% |
4. Gossip in reports given by the news media |
| Total somewhat or significant problem: | 84%
|
| A VERY SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM | 57% |
| A SOMEWHAT SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM | 27% |
| NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL | 10% |
| DON'T KNOW/REFUSED (DNR) | 6% |
5. Honestly now, how often do you listen to or share gossip about other people?
| At least once or twice a week: | 41%
|
| MORE THAN ONCE A DAY | 7% |
| ONCE A DAY | 10% |
| ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK | 24% |
| RARELY | 43% |
| NEVER | 14% |
| DON'T KNOW/REFUSED (DNR) | 2% |
6. (SPLIT SAMPLE) How often do people say something about you behind your back that is HURTFUL?
| At least once or twice a week: | 18%
|
| MORE THAN ONCE A DAY | 9% |
| ONCE A DAY | 5% |
| ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK | 5% |
| RARELY | 38% |
| NEVER | 13% |
| DON'T KNOW/REFUSED (DNR) | 31% |
6. (SPLIT SAMPLE) How often do people say something about you behind your back that is UNTRUE?
| At least once or twice a week: | 22%
|
| MORE THAN ONCE A DAY | 3% |
| ONCE A DAY | 6% |
| ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK | 13% |
| RARELY | 30% |
| NEVER | 7% |
| DON'T KNOW/REFUSED (DNR) | 41% |
7. How often do you say something about someone behind their back that you regret later?
At least once or twice a week: 11%
|
| MORE THAN ONCE A DAY | 2% |
| ONCE A DAY | 2% |
| ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK | 7% |
| RARELY | 60% |
| NEVER | 25% |
| DON'T KNOW/REFUSED (DNR) | 3% |
8. Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with the following statement... | 
