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5 Psychological Benefits of Gossip

Do you gossip?

By Cloe MaclurePublished 2 years ago 4 min read
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5 Psychological Benefits of Gossip
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Gossip is everywhere. Everyone gossips, but women do it more than men. Are they aware that it can also benefit the psyche?

We must be aware that gossip is an extremely important tool in society. It can have unpleasant consequences or, on the contrary, a huge positive effect. It all depends on how we use it. We know that gossip is everywhere, we know that most women tend to gossip … But why do they do it?

Gossip helps women share their feelings/emotions.

Most of the time, women gossip because they feel the need to share their emotions, feelings, or opinions with the people they interact with. Being emotional beings, the female representatives consider this sharing a vital element for the release of negative energies or the thoughts that trouble them. And how else can a woman free herself from everything she feels is negative if not through communication? Numerous studies and research have revealed that women say twice as many words every day as men …

Gossip validates the thoughts of most women.

There is a good chance that a woman will validate her thoughts or feelings through gossip. Each of us, women, need to say in a conversation what we think or feel to receive validation or even support from those we interact with.

When, in a discussion, several close friends validate each other's thoughts and opinions, each one experiences that feeling of satisfaction that the others understand her and can empathize with her. Maybe validating other people's thoughts shouldn't be called gossip, right?

Through gossip, women can share their darkest secrets.

Women gossip because they know that in a discussion they can have mutual trust. Although most men deny this, the truth is that women who have been good friends for a long time trust each other and can tell even the darkest secrets.

So when they meet and start talking about different things and even gossiping, women know exactly whether or not they can trust the person next to them.

That's why gossiping can bind them in an incomprehensible way to men because being 100% sure that your girlfriend won't tell anyone the secrets you told her is very important for a friendship.

Gossip reduces stress.

During the lunch break or in the evening, after sitting at the office for a whole day, when she meets a friend, any woman relaxes and starts talking, whether she wants to or not, to gossip. It is this type of communication that will help her get rid of the negative thoughts and energies she has accumulated over the day and thus gets rid of stress.

This is perhaps the best reason why women gossip. Unconsciously and involuntarily, he listens to his instinct to 'cleanse' himself through gossip, reaching an inner state of tranquility, relaxing.

Do we gossip because other women gossip?

Although it seems hard to believe, the most common reason for gossip is: if other women gossip, why shouldn't I gossip? Therefore, it is difficult for a woman to ignore gossip because it is present everywhere - at home, at work, wherever she goes out with her friends. Gossip is often a tool that 'spreads' positive or negative rumors at work. Gossip is everywhere. And everyone is gossiping. Is this a bad thing or a good thing?

Conclusion & recap: Gossip - why do we feel the need to talk about others?

Gossip does not have a good reputation at all, we are all aware of how ugly the habit of gossiping is, but at the same time, we all do it to some degree.

Although gossip seems like an unfounded action, there are precise arguments why we feel the need to gossip. Studies by specialists in the field have shown that there are good reasons we have, without realizing it, to gossip.

Gossip can be a way of getting to know the people around you

By gossiping, you can find out how people around you think, and what moral benchmarks they have. When we gossip, not only do we judge, but we can also see how the people we interact with judge. In this way, we can intuit what they think about us and about the actions we take.

Gossip can make us feel safe

Some theories claim that gossip gives us security. By exchanging information we protect ourselves and keep our place in society. Some experts even believe that gossip played an extremely important role in the evolutionary process, helping individuals to learn about dangers and to protect themselves from them.

Gossip creates connections between people

According to scientists, gossip is a key element when it comes to integrating into a group. A study conducted in 2011 revealed that gossip at work can lead to lasting friendships that can last a lifetime.

Another study showed that the limit of the brain when it comes to the social group is 150 people. According to the same study, gossiping with someone is a way to get closer to that person, to check if there is compatibility in terms of principles and values.

In the end, it turns out that the people with whom individual gossips are closest to him because they share the same values ​​and perspectives.

Gossip satisfies the need to tell stories

Gossip is an excellent opportunity to use our talent as a narrator. Therefore, some scientists believe that gossip satisfies the innate need to tell stories.

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