In episode 1 of season 6, "Gossip" Michael, the office manager, shows an extreme amount need for inclusion (one's need to belong to a social group and to be included in the activities of other (87)) which then leads to gossip (the sharing of an individual's personal information with a third party with out the consent of the individual (102)) and then to a major lack of self-monitoring (79).
This episode starts with some employees chatting in the break room. They are talking about the summer interns they have. They believe that two of them, Eric and Megan, like eachother (the two on the left in the picture above). They mention the possibility of them getting married and Michael walks in and overhears them.
"Who's getting married?!" says Michael. They all mumble that it was nothing but Michael insists on knowing who they are talking about, so they tell him. He is thrilled to hear that it is two people he hired and calls himself a "Matchmaker." "Did everyone know about this besides me?" Michael says, suddenly affended that he didn't know.
Phyllis, a sale rep. then responds, "Michael, there is nothing to know, it's just gossip."
In this small scene Michael shows a need for inclusion, and he does this by involving himself in gossip.
Just wait... It gets worse.
Michael spreads this rumor to Dwight who already knew, and because Dwight is more of an outcast of the office he is very upset to hear that Dwight knew about this fling between the interns and he didn't. Eventually Michael ends up talking to the interns about a date they went on and he stumbles upon the fact that Stanley, another sales rep. was there with a women who was not his wife.
Michael is absolutely thrilled that he has discovered some major gossip about someone in the office and spreads it like wild fire. Finally, Jim, another sales rep. and main character in the show, confronts Michael about the possible repercussions Stanley may face because of Michael's lack of self-monitoring and need for inclusion...by gossiping.
Michael talks to Stanley about his affair and Stanley asks him not to tell anyone about it. Michael, having told everyone already, promises he will not. Again, lacking in self-monitoring, he goes about the situation in a incredibly unthoughtful way. He decides that the best way to cover up the secret that he already spread by spreading a bunch of false gossip about everyone else in the office, causing an uproar by the end of the day.
The day is saved by Jim and Pam, the interoffice love. It just so happens, the "rumor" Michael spreads about them was that Pam was pregant, which is actually true! In the end, Stanley's secret is covered up and forgotten because of Jim and Pam's birth annoucment, which is brought to the service because of Michael's rampant gossip.
This episode starts with some employees chatting in the break room. They are talking about the summer interns they have. They believe that two of them, Eric and Megan, like eachother (the two on the left in the picture above). They mention the possibility of them getting married and Michael walks in and overhears them.
"Who's getting married?!" says Michael. They all mumble that it was nothing but Michael insists on knowing who they are talking about, so they tell him. He is thrilled to hear that it is two people he hired and calls himself a "Matchmaker." "Did everyone know about this besides me?" Michael says, suddenly affended that he didn't know.
Phyllis, a sale rep. then responds, "Michael, there is nothing to know, it's just gossip."
In this small scene Michael shows a need for inclusion, and he does this by involving himself in gossip.
Just wait... It gets worse.
Michael spreads this rumor to Dwight who already knew, and because Dwight is more of an outcast of the office he is very upset to hear that Dwight knew about this fling between the interns and he didn't. Eventually Michael ends up talking to the interns about a date they went on and he stumbles upon the fact that Stanley, another sales rep. was there with a women who was not his wife.
Michael is absolutely thrilled that he has discovered some major gossip about someone in the office and spreads it like wild fire. Finally, Jim, another sales rep. and main character in the show, confronts Michael about the possible repercussions Stanley may face because of Michael's lack of self-monitoring and need for inclusion...by gossiping.
Michael talks to Stanley about his affair and Stanley asks him not to tell anyone about it. Michael, having told everyone already, promises he will not. Again, lacking in self-monitoring, he goes about the situation in a incredibly unthoughtful way. He decides that the best way to cover up the secret that he already spread by spreading a bunch of false gossip about everyone else in the office, causing an uproar by the end of the day.
The day is saved by Jim and Pam, the interoffice love. It just so happens, the "rumor" Michael spreads about them was that Pam was pregant, which is actually true! In the end, Stanley's secret is covered up and forgotten because of Jim and Pam's birth annoucment, which is brought to the service because of Michael's rampant gossip.
See Notes for Picture I.
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