.png)
The brain on gossip: Why are we so interested?
Gossip, defined as conversation on people who aren't present, surrounds us at work, in the streets, at school – virtually everywhere. From a young age, people overhear and propel information forward, even though what was said is not necessarily true, oftentimes resulting in hurtful and harmful rumors. Despite its well-known harmful character, why do we, humans, feel such a natural desire to talk about other people's lives, to know what is going on?
The history behind gossip
First of all, it is necessary to understand that even though gossip may have malicious intent and result in harm, not all gossip is necessarily negative. Researchers state that primates engage in grooming to socialize and bond, however humans, due to evolution, no longer display those behaviors. Now, to be able to create social bonds, people engage in conversation, which mainly involves talking about other people, which links to the definition of gossip.
Gossip also allows humans to offer teachings and highlight what is considered socially acceptable in a community. If, for example, someone cheats on exams and people around them talk about what they did in a negative light, younger people may hear this story and understand that something is wrong, or vice versa. This social criticism is what enforces certain social norms and morals, therefore it can be beneficial, as it may teach people to be more compassionate and honest, however it can also lead to oppression and lack of acceptance.
What happens to the brain and body when we gossip?
When looking at brain imaging of men and women as they heard positive and negative gossip about themselves, their best friend, and celebrities, scientists noticed more activity in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for controlling attention, emotions, complex learning, and understanding social behavior. According to the scientists running the experiment, the increase in activity relates to the human desire to be socially accepted.
When listening to negative gossip about celebrities, however, their caudate nucleus, the part of the brain responsible for memory, processing visual information, and rewarding the brain, was activated, presenting interest in scandals. Moreover, as predicted, they felt glad to hear positive gossip about themselves and upset about negative gossip.
According to an experiment run by Matthew Feinberg, an assistant professor of organizational behavior at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, and his colleagues, when one hears or witnesses a social injustice, their heart rates rise, however when allowed to gossip about it, their heart rate decreased. Gossip, is, therefore, a way to self-soothe and is related to human nature.
After all, is gossip good or bad?
Gossip is not inherently bad, however, if ill-intentioned, may result in harm and detriment. It is something related to human evolution and, by definition, is something so broad that everyone engages in gossip, not necessarily with the intent of intruding into someone else's life, but to understand what is happening socially and to bond with others. It is something intertwined with human physiology, as it results in specific reactions in the brain, therefore humans are naturally prone to gossiping and should, therefore, be careful with fake rumors.
Sources:
Comments