Gossip is not entirely negative despite its shady reputation. In fact, gossiping offers some health benefits.
Gossipers May Have 'Evolutionary Advantage'
Gossiping has been shown in the past to be a beneficial social skill. Still, no one has ever really investigated why gossipers benefit from it. According to the study, individuals engage in gossip with others as a means of defense from becoming the target of rumors themselves.
The researchers note that other gossipers may potentially act as a reward for the original gossiper. The "evolutionary advantage" that gossipers possess may come from their capacity to sway the actions of others.
Thus, despite the fact that gossip is often disliked, the researchers emphasize that it can serve a purpose, particularly when some information that is shared can be favorable.
Assuming the information is accurate, gossiping can provide people with useful information about whether someone is a good person to interact with. This is according to study co-author Dana Nau, a retired professor from the Institute for Systems Research and Department of Computer Science at the University of Maryland.
People are more inclined to work with you on issues if they know you are a gossip and will behave themselves appropriately. You gain something as a gossiper because of the fact that you end up gossiping. Others are, therefore, motivated to gossip because they perceive a benefit from it.
Benefits of Gossiping
University of Oxford professor Robin Dunbar, author of "Grooming, Gossip, and the Evolution of Language," said for reasons not quite evident, the reputation of gossip has turned decidedly dodgy as it reportedly just means engagement between two persons.
Here are some benefits of gossiping.
Protects Society
By using rumors to warn others of possible problems, you can reduce the likelihood of unwary individuals falling prey. Additionally, the activity offers a means of isolating transgressors.
According to Matthew Feinberg, a postdoctoral researcher and study coauthor, groups that permit gossiping among their members can better maintain collaboration and discourage selfishness than those that do not.
Groups that can disown disloyal members and spread rumors perform even better. Although it is possible to abuse either of these behaviors, our research indicates that they also have highly valuable roles for society and groups.
Relieves Stress
Anxiety relief is another advantage of gossip. Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley discovered that in an experiment, those who saw someone acting improperly felt stressed, and their heart rates increased. But the effect was mitigated when they told others what they had seen.
Social psychologist Robb Willer observed that people's chatter was usually quieted when they shared information about the individual they had witnessed doing improperly.
Self Improvement
Negative talk isn't necessary for every gossip. According to research from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, when positive and negative rumors about others are shared, it might inspire people to work on themselves. Although it advised not to jeopardize your reputation, negative chatter was also beneficial.
We implicitly compare ourselves with the individuals we talk about; therefore, hearing about others can be a useful way to learn about ourselves, according to Elena Martinescu.
Trust and Communication
According to Derek Arnold, a communication instructor at Villanova University, gossip can also play a significant role in fostering cooperation and trust.
"Sharing 'private' information can establish relationships between people so that they will continue to confide in each other," Arnold said. "They are more likely to work together on other activities."
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