Can gossip be a good thing?
Can gossip be a good thing?
How many times have you told yourself that gossip is one of those things you'd rather not do or have others engage in, but you find yourself drawn in anyway? If you're like the rest of us, gossip appears to have an irritable pull and before you know it, you're involved.
New research on the topic, however, may offer some insights into why we engage in gossip and how it can actually be beneficial for us. One prior study that appears in the literature in Human Nature in 1997 indicated that up to 65% of what we talk about each day is gossip. It would seem that it fills quite a bit of our time and researchers suggest you make a distinction between gossip and rumor. Gossip, theoretically, is based on facts while rumor is mere speculation.
The latest belief in the psychological community is that gossip serves as a means of bonding with others and here's where gossip and the water cooler go together. Getting a cold drink may also mean an opportunity to interact with our fellow employees and do a bit of de-stressing through breaking out of our work mindset for a few brief moments. Just like the coffee break helps us to renew our energy level and cut the stress that may have been building up, a few minutes of levity around the water cooler may be just what the doctor ordered.
Gossip can also help us to understand the rules of the business in which we find ourselves and the mores of the corporate culture. So, it's bonding and learning how to fit in. The bonding occurs by helping us establish trust because of this sharing of information, however frivolous it seems. One psychologist at the University of Liverpool, believes that gossip is like social grooming in the animal kingdom which helps them form social alliances.
So, when a day is particularly stressful, you may have the urge to reach out and gossip to someone as a means of shedding some of that stress, if only for 15 minutes.
Related Topics: A New Age of Celebrity Worship, Fear of Public Speaking Hardwired
Technorati Tags: gossip, stress relief
How many times have you told yourself that gossip is one of those things you'd rather not do or have others engage in, but you find yourself drawn in anyway? If you're like the rest of us, gossip appears to have an irritable pull and before you know it, you're involved.
New research on the topic, however, may offer some insights into why we engage in gossip and how it can actually be beneficial for us. One prior study that appears in the literature in Human Nature in 1997 indicated that up to 65% of what we talk about each day is gossip. It would seem that it fills quite a bit of our time and researchers suggest you make a distinction between gossip and rumor. Gossip, theoretically, is based on facts while rumor is mere speculation.
The latest belief in the psychological community is that gossip serves as a means of bonding with others and here's where gossip and the water cooler go together. Getting a cold drink may also mean an opportunity to interact with our fellow employees and do a bit of de-stressing through breaking out of our work mindset for a few brief moments. Just like the coffee break helps us to renew our energy level and cut the stress that may have been building up, a few minutes of levity around the water cooler may be just what the doctor ordered.
Gossip can also help us to understand the rules of the business in which we find ourselves and the mores of the corporate culture. So, it's bonding and learning how to fit in. The bonding occurs by helping us establish trust because of this sharing of information, however frivolous it seems. One psychologist at the University of Liverpool, believes that gossip is like social grooming in the animal kingdom which helps them form social alliances.
So, when a day is particularly stressful, you may have the urge to reach out and gossip to someone as a means of shedding some of that stress, if only for 15 minutes.
Related Topics: A New Age of Celebrity Worship, Fear of Public Speaking Hardwired
Technorati Tags: gossip, stress relief
15 Comments:
Your definition of gossip is a little broad. Gossip is generally associated with sharing potentially scandalous secrets about others and engaging in character assassination. This is different from sharing funny stories about one's children or a difficult problem you're trying to sort through. One of the articles you link to also make that distinction. There's nothing wrong with gossip that doesn't intend to bring others down.
That is the craziest article I have ever read!
I agree with Antonio in that there is often a darker side to gossip. Talking about the weather and last night's ballgame differs from violating others' privacy through insensitive, intrusive commentary. Gossip can promote bonding and comraderie and can also strengthen in-group feelings. Being able to discern between communicative connection and mean-sprited spewing is the mark of an ethical professional.
I agree with the article as long as the gossip is not mean-spirited. I enjoy having a "confidant" or two at work that I can gossip with in fun and with trust. A person who never gossips at all has a hard time forming friendships (bonding). It's usually harmless banter and we all do it!
Gossip is fantastic,it really brings two people together to share and release stress!
gossip is inevetiable but how do you know for sure that it is based on fact...if you have ever been the victim of malicious gossip you would understand how distructive it can be on so many levels, especially in the workplace...try to live your life ...how would I like it if this was being said about me or would I feel comfortable saying this to the persons face!
Gossip it just another form of lying about another individual, group or situation. As posted by another, if gossip truly is a requirement to establish friendships, where in the world is our society going?
I must say from my background and from my associates, gossip is as defined by Antonio another respondent to this article).
I kindness, respect and other forms of positive social behavior cannot be the basis for our interactions with each other, then why bother.
GOSSIP, RUTHLESSNESS AND OUTRIGHT DISREGARD FOR OTHERS MUST BE THE BASIS FOR FRIENDSHIPS & OTHER FORMS OF RELATIONSHIPS, THEN i'D RATHER BE A LONER.
There are certainly much better ways to relieve stress at work than engaging in gossip, Dr. Pat. Some of the gossip may be truth that gets mixed in with some out and out lies, but the truth is usually said in dergatory manner...not as any kind of productive criticism...not to mention these conversations occur BEHIND the person being talked about's back. Walk around the building...up & down stairs..but gossip...nah
Dear Dr Farrell;
Nice article! Gossip is simply sharing what's happening in the workplace, for the most part. Trustworthy individuals wouldn't share private information about someone knowing that woudl be hurtful to the other person.
I read an article once that said that if management wanted to know what was REALLY happening in the work place, they should spend time with the smokers! That's where a lot of information gets put out, compiled, and verified. My former boss used to ask me what was the word out in the 'smoke pit'. (I've since kicked the habit, I'm happy to say). I always learned a lot about the company I was empoyed by when I paid attention to the gossip in the 'smoke pit'.
In response to the other comments, you distinguish in your blog bewteen gossip (theoretically based on fact) and rumor (speculation). Gossip is who's getting married, who's expecting a baby, who's buying a house, etc. Since we office workers work in little caves, also known as cubicles, "gossiping" at the water cooler of coffee machine is a way to releive the boredom and isolation of the job and ultimately makes us more productive when we return to our work refreshed, chuckling, de-stressed.
Great blog! Thank you!
~Tasker
Now I know why PhD stands for Piled higher and Deeper.
I must agree with antonio, idle chit chat or gossip 99% of the times usually is nothing more than talking about your co-workers in a derogatory fashion which is really doing the devils work. If the individuals need stress relief then they should focus there agression on doing something more constructive like taking a brisk walk etc.
My mother always said "if they will do it with you........they will do it to you"!! And she was right. Look at the people who "gossip", and I mean the not so nice gossip. My thought is avoid the hurtful gossip, and the folks who do it. Be part of the gossip, and its just a matter of time before you become the next item of gossip to discuss.
I am very disturbed by this article which states that gossip is a positive thing. I have just recently been a victim of gossip and it has really taken a lot of self-therapy to get through a major rejection of someone who I thought was my friend was actually using gossip to ruin my reputatation at work. I had heard some of the hurtful "chit-chat" through the doors and through others. I have found it very difficult to trust anyone around me in my workplace, especially since I have never said such evil things about the person who had made inferences about me and now bonds (of course only temporary until she does it to them) with another person cause she has "juicy", ficticious information to squawk about. obviously she is pitiful cause she gossips!
Gossip is poison in the workplace.
The dark side is character assassination and backbiting behaviors that bring down the spirit in the individual being the center of the gossip. In my estimation of gossip, gossiping has gotten worse since the tv survivor series and the apprentice series. I have always avoided the smoke pit and the lounge and the water cooler. If I had any problems with a co-worker, I would go to that person and have a two way conversation and try to resolve the situation. Gossip is lying about another person and can create a "reality" of its own. When the boss accussed me of gossip, I cried because someone had lied about me. On the second accussation, I pulled out an attourney's business card and threatened that if this was not civily addressed in front of my accussor that I would sue for defamation of character. I do not respect persons in authority who dip into the gossip poluted pool for information and those who participate in gossip. My last years on that job were numbing and disparring. I never found out who said what and if I ever do, I will remove their tongues and lungs through their wallets and purses in court.
Thou shall not bear false witness is still valid.. So is not killing another (even their perceived psyche) with another.
we have enough scandal to last all of our dehydrated lives!
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