magazine issue 2 2012 / Issue 14

The dish on gossip: Its origins, functions, and bad reputation

• written by Ashley Waggoner Denton
• edited by Namkje Koudenburg

Finally, gossip can be a form of entertainment, as evident in the countless magazines and websites that exist purely for the purpose of sharing celebrity gossip. Although this entertainment function of gossip does not necessarily serve connectedness motives (e.g., you can sit at your computer alone, reading about the latest celebrity feud), I would argue that reading about celebrity gossip is even more entertaining when it is recounted with friends, either in person or sharing links via social networking sites. The fact that celebrity gossip is so widespread also means that it may provide unacquainted individuals with common ground – a way to break the ice, allowing new connections to be made. Gossiping in general--not just about celebrities--can also function as a form of entertainment, and Fine and Rosnow (1978) argue that this is likely to be one of the major functions of gossip in situations in which friendship is already established and “there are no external needs or threats” (p. 164). Others have argued that gossip shares similarities with other entertainment-focused activities that strengthen social bonds, such as conversational humor (Morreall, 1994), and joking (Ben-Ze’ev, 1994).

Conclusion

Gossip is an undeniable part of human life, and despite its bad reputation, it serves many important functions in society. Far from empty or mindless talk, the motives and consequences of gossip can be much more complex than most people realize. And while it can, at times, be hurtful or troublesome, there are numerous positive benefits associated with (even negative) gossip. Although long-ignored by academics as a topic too frivolous for study, many researchers have begun to examine gossip more closely - and I encourage you to do the same when you encounter gossip in your own life.

References

Ayim, M. (1994). Knowledge through the grapevine: Gossip as inquiry. In R. F. Goodman & A. Ben-Ze’ev (Eds.), Good Gossip (pp. 85-99). Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas.

Barkow, J. H. (1992). Beneath new culture is old psychology: Gossip and social stratification. In J. H. Barkow, L.

Cosmides, & J. Tooby (Eds.), The adapted mind: Evolutionary psychology and the generation of culture (pp. 627-637). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Baumeister, R. F., Zhang, L., & Vohs, K. (2004). Gossip as cultural learning. Review of General Psychology, 8, 111-121.

Ben-Ze’ev, A. (1994). The vindication of gossip. In R. F. Goodman & A. Ben-Ze’ev (Eds.), Good Gossip (pp. 11-24). Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas.

Corsaro, W., & Eder, D. (1990). Children’s peer cultures. Annual Review of Sociology, 16, 197-220.
De Sousa, R. (1994). In praise of gossip: Indiscretion as a saintly virtue. In R. F. Goodman & A. Ben-Ze’ev (Eds.), Good Gossip (pp. 25-33). Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas.

DiFonzo, N. (2008). The watercooler effect: A psychologist explores the extraordinary power of rumors. New York, NY: Penguin Group.

Dunbar, R. I. M. (1996). Grooming, gossip, and the evolution of language. London: Faber & Faber.

Dunbar, R. I. M. (2004). Gossip in evolutionary perspective. Review of General Psychology, 8, 100-110.

Emler, N. (1994). Gossip, reputation, and social adaptation. In R. F. Goodman & A. Ben-Ze’ev (Eds.), Good Gossip (pp. 117-138). Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas.

Festinger, L. (1954). A theory of social comparison processes. Human Relations, 7, 117-140.

Fine, G. A. (1977). Social components of children’s gossip. Journal of Communication, 27, 181-185.