Gossip, not necessarily destructive, as a social force determining who belongs to the village ingroup & who does not, is examined. The willingness to provide a satisfactory account of oneself & one's past history is seen as an essential step toward social acceptance. The nondestructive element is illustrated by the story of a war widow with several young daughters, whose hard work & loyalty to the memory of her husband elicited warm approval from the village. Various means of enforcing social approval or disapproval of newcomers or members of minorities are discussed. S. McAneny 

Quelle: Sociological Abstracts Inc.