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Why Gossiping Might Actually Be Good for You, According to Science

Researchers say gossip can help people spot bad behavior, make sense of social situations, and warn others, as long as it isn’t cruel or manipulative.

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Gossiping is one of the most common yet frowned-upon social habits—but is it really as bad as we paint it out to be? According to researchers, gossip can actually be positive.

Is Gossiping a Bad Habit?

Gossiping can certainly become a negative habit, especially if done with negative intentions. If you enjoy stirring the pot or always seem to find yourself in the middle of drama, you might use gossip as a form of entertainment or validation. 

“Gossip crosses that line when it is no longer about trying to understand what happened with a particular situation and instead is now about manipulating others into viewing you positively,” says Suzanne Koch Eckenrode, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 25 years of clinical experience. “When one shares exaggerated information about someone else (often with the intent of embarrassing them), when one reveals private information about an individual without their consent, when one recruits additional individuals to ‘take sides’ in a given issue, or when one enjoys watching an individual be........

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