Why gossip isn't as toxic as you might think: It can also be used for good

"The report, titled Explaining the Evolution of Gossip, clarifies how gossip has evolved to help social groups function, by disseminating useful information about their members and fostering cooperation. Gossip is a ubiquitous feature of human communication, explains psychologist and psychotherapist Barbara Zorrilla. From a social-psychological perspective, gossip helps reinforce social norms what's appropriate and what's not which is why gossip is often used to socially sanction people who don't comply with these norms, she details."

"Psychologist and human behavior expert Silvia Manjavacas agrees that gossip makes us feel like part of a group. It's a way of bonding and regulating relationships, creating a sense of belonging, and even relieving tension. There's [such a thing as] good gossip, as long as there's no intention to harm the other person [or] expose their privacy without their consent, this expert argues."

"Gossip has evolved to help social groups function, to spread useful information about their members and to foster cooperation.Catherine Falls Commercial (Getty Images) However, when gossip becomes a form of judgment, or when it's used as a weapon against another person, it becomes harmful. It's not a question of frequency, but of content. Acting on unverified information is very dangerous. For example, a person with narcissistic traits may want to ruin someone's reputation through malicious gossip, Zorrilla points out."

Gossip arises daily in workplaces, friendships, and families and occupies roughly one hour per day according to a February 2024 PNAS study. Gossip evolved to help social groups function by disseminating useful information about members and fostering cooperation. Gossip reinforces social norms by signaling what is appropriate and enabling social sanctions against noncompliance. Gossip also creates bonding, regulates relationships, produces belonging, and can relieve tension. Some gossip can be benign when not intended to harm or violate privacy. Gossip becomes harmful when it is judgmental, weaponized, or used to exclude, control, or spread unverified accusations that can ruin reputations.

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