Gossiping makes you a better person
Asian News International
London, August 24, 2005
If you always thought that gossip was just wastage of time, then think again, as it may have many benefits for human societies.
According to new research to be published in Human Nature, gossip can stamp out bad behavior, strengthen friendships and circulate important information not available anywhere else.
When people huddle to share information about an absent person, it is a deep-seated instinct, the equivalent of social grooming, discovered an 18-month study by two anthropologists, Kevin Kniffin of the University of Wisconsin and David S Wilson of the State University of New York.
Gossip helps in improving relationship, clarifying social status and it reinforces shared values, it said.
"Gossip is about reputation, and that has been intensely important throughout human history, no matter how primitive or sophisticated a society is," the Independent quoted Kniffin, as saying.
He said that gossip could be used as a defense mechanism and it could help an individual in tackling a person who is of bad behavior. It also helps in making humans more moral, as doing bad things would definitely result in being at the receiving end of gossip.
The study also revealed, that people spend from a fifth to two-thirds of their daily conversation gossiping, with men indulging in it as much as women.
However, while gossiping men were found more egocentric, talking for two-thirds of the time about themselves, while women did so for only a third, preferring to talk about other people!
Happy Gossiping!! Sam, hon sorry for gossiping, move this to member lounge but leave the link here so my friends can reply!!
Gossip monger Mink.
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