Want to Know the Gossip?
As the saying goes, “gossip is the lifeblood of the community.” However, we warn people away from The Gossip; we say they’re not to be trusted and will speak ill of you behind your back. But, we are all guilty of gossiping to some degree.
Much like the function of grooming in other primate species, gossiping is a form of social bonding. The average number of relationships per human make it impossible for us to groom everyone in our social circle and perform the many functions modern-day living requires of us. Gossiping, therefore, allows us to bond and maintain relationships within large groups.
Gossiping can also be seen as a way to regulate behavior. Through gossip, we share information about the behavior of others, and this facilitates group consensus on what is permissible and what is not, helping to maintain social norms and values.
