He also discovered that gossip can serve as a way to identify and ostracize unreliable members of the group. There can be many reasons why people gossip. These may include revenge, jealousy, increasing your social position, getting attention, feeling accepted, feeling better about yourself, etc. Deborah Byrne's psychology services do not guarantee that this website is free of viruses or other harmful components.
Evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar pioneered this idea, comparing gossip with primate grooming as a means of creating emotional bonds. In a study published earlier this year in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, 467 adults used electronic recorders for two to five days, which collected samples of their verbal conversations during that time period.
