It's not about spreading harmful rumors or criticism—gossiping taps into our natural urge to connect through conversation. A 2019 study in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, based on 500 participants, revealed that most gossip is neutral and lacks malicious intent.
A 2019 study published in Frontiers in Psychology sheds light on why: gossiping triggers the release of endorphins, the 'happiness hormones' also produced during sex and physical activity.
So why does whispering to a friend feel so good? Gossiping fosters social bonds.
Mark Leary, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University, explained to Health: "Gossiping is a basic human instinct, because our lives are deeply rooted in groups. We not only live in groups, but we also depend on the members of these groups to survive. We need to have as much information as possible about our loved ones to know how the people around us are, who to trust or not, who breaks the rules of the group, who is friends with whom, what their personalities and points of view are."
In short, gossip has a positive social role when practiced in moderation, enhancing our time with friends over drinks.
