What makes people gossip

Finally, the paper by Dores Cruz, Balliet et al. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the five-factor structure and supported full invariance across three different definitions of gossip. Together, the papers in this special issue contribute to our knowledge about gossip in several ways.

First, they offer new insights into the motives that drive gossip senders' behavior. Whereas, previous studies have often implicitly taken the perspective that gossip is driven by one motive e. Gossip is, thus, neither exclusively motivated by noble motives nor by malicious ones, as previous studies have suggested. Specifically, Dores Cruz, Beersma et al.

Finally, by showing why people would refrain from gossiping, Giardini and Wittek add to this broader perspective on gossip motives. Second, the studies presented here offer new insights into the consequences of gossip by being among the first that examine outcomes beyond short-term cooperation. Whereas, previous studies have shown that gossip can increase the adherence to cooperative norms in groups Beersma and Van Kleef, ; Feinberg et al.

In conclusion, the studies reported here move away from the existing perspective on gossip as a one-sided, purely negative or purely positive, phenomenon. We hope that the current set of papers forms an inspiration for further studies that will continue to explore gossip as a phenomenon that is driven by different motives and that has both beneficial and detrimental effects for senders, recipients, and targets.

This contribution was funded in part by ERC consolidator project: The unknown force: How gossip shapes the functioning and performance of organizational groups Force-of-Gossip, Grant No.

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. Beersma, B. How the grapevine keeps you in line: Gossip increases contributions to the group. Why people gossip: an empirical analysis of social motives, antecedents, and consequences. Giardini and R. Some researchers argue that gossip helped our ancestors survive.

Evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar first pioneered this idea, comparing gossip to the grooming primates engage in as a means of bonding. In a study published in Social Neuroscience, scientists looked at brain imaging of men and women as they heard positive and negative gossip about themselves, their best friends and celebrities.

People hearing gossip — good and bad — about themselves, as well as negative gossip in general, showed more activity in the prefrontal cortex of their brains, which is key to our ability to navigate complex social behaviors. This activity indicated the subjects responded to the gossip and its insight. The study also found that the caudate nucleus, a reward center in the brain, was activated in response to negative gossip about celebrities; subjects seemed to be amused or entertained by salacious celebrity scandals.

The researchers also polled how the subjects felt , in addition to studying what their brain images revealed. Not surprisingly, they were happier to hear positive gossip about themselves , and more irked by hearing negative gossip about themselves as opposed to hearing gossip about others.

These are the zodiac's biggest gossips looking at you, Gemini. And here's a nostalgia expert's read on why reminiscing in groups can be such a good unifier. Your official excuse to add "OOD" ahem, out of doors to your cal. Become an Insider. Enter Email Address. Facebook Pinterest Twitter Youtube Instagram. I n its most straightforward form, gossip is simply talking about someone who isn't present.

It can happen through cupped hands into an ear, under industrial-strength blowdryers, via Slack at your office , or, really, in any number of other ways. The moment you become addicted to gossip, you will find out that a harmless gossip soon spirals into something a lot more complex. Perhaps you have even spent your entire Sunday afternoon talking with a friend about certain matters that appeared to drain your energy and as such lost the opportunity to use the same time to properly bond.

Idle gossips are certainly not good because they usually are a reflection of the things we resent about things and people. The easiest way to know if you have been involved in idle gossip is the way you feel after you must have finished doing it. As for good gossip, there is always a good feeling that comes after been involved with it.

When you gossip positively about a person, you tend to feel closer to the world generally and the person you are gossiping about. The beautiful thing about positive gossip is that it can be quite informative and help you keep tabs with old friends. Gyms provide a wonderful environment for the spread of news. Just as it is in other communities, they provide a unique platform for the spread of certain kinds of rumor.

One nasty thing about such kinds of gossips is that after they must have gone through different ears and mouths, they often have little or no semblance to the real truth.

It should, however, be noted that in some situations you do have the mandate to let people know what you think of other people. For instance, if a friend of yours is considering dating someone who is known to be quite randy, it becomes your responsibility to inform your friend. Having said, this, it is important to state that not all information needs to be spread around.

Harmful communication can be defined as any piece of information that could cause harm and hurt to other people. It is not limited to words alone as simple gestures such as eye roll or the tone we use when talking to other people can also be quite harmful. Furthermore, one other thing about bad gossip is its effect on your mind. Like we said earlier, negative gossip tends to leave behind a rather bad taste whether you are the hearer or speaker. The effect leaves behind in your mind is such that leaves a feeling of damage to your sub-conscious.

You should also know that the negativity you channel to others will always find its way back to you. If you see yourself as a gossip addict and you desire to change this habit of yours, you need to search deep within yourself and find out what you gain from gossiping. One of the main catalysts of people being involved in gossips lies in the thrill of being let in on a secret.

In the case of negative gossip, it is often quite exciting to find out that you are not the only one with some toxic traits.