Gossip relieves stress

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

From childhood we were taught that it is not nice to discuss someone behind his back. But as American scientists assure, gossiping is actually not so bad. According to experts, in fact, gossip performs an important social function, serves as a kind of alarm signal and even helps fight stress.

Scientists have found that gossip has two positive effects. First, by transmitting rumors, you can warn someone about the troubles that are threatening him. Scientists have called gossip "social" (prosocial gossip). Second, it reduces the stress of the gossip. When he shares information that excites him, he immediately calms down, releasing everything that boils.

Psychologists note that gossip about the stars or washing the bones of their acquaintances is nothing more than chatter, writes Ytro.ru.

Researchers at the University of Berkeley conducted an experiment, the results of which proved the beneficial properties of gossip. For the experiment, several volunteers were asked to participate in the game, while one of them cheated. The other participants only watched the game, but they had the opportunity to inform the players that one of them was cheating. Of course, they could not stand up and openly declare foul play, so they gossiped.

During the experiment, the researchers recorded the heart rate of the observers. When participants saw foul play, their heart rate increased and they became worried. When they passed on the rumor to one of the players, the heart rate returned to normal. “Gossip removed negative emotions, they started to feel better,” the observers concluded.

“The main reason for the gossip was to help other players. They didn't just want to gossip about how bad a crook was doing. Altruism manifests itself here, explained the author of the study, psychologist Matthew Feinberg.