Prompt Cast
The Science Behind Gossip: Why We Do It and How It Affects Us
TLDR Gossip has been a part of human culture for thousands of years, and research shows that both men and women actively engage in gossip, spending an average of 52 minutes a day talking about others. Despite people claiming to be more interested in trivia, our brains are actually more excited by gossip because it provides information and helps us bond with others. Gossip can be a powerful tool for sharing important information and building relationships, but it can also have negative impacts on mental health if someone becomes the target of gossip.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Gossip has been a part of human culture for thousands of years, and has even been punished with horrific consequences, particularly for women.
04:30
Gossip has been a part of human culture for thousands of years, and has even been punished with horrific consequences, particularly for women.
09:04
Stacy accidentally stumbled upon the study of gossip while observing regulars at a bakery, and found that both men and women were actively gossiping about each other.
13:13
In a study where people wore recorders all day, researchers found that both men and women gossip, spending an average of 52 minutes a day talking about others, and that being the target of gossip can negatively impact mental health.
17:00
A lot of us gossip and don't like being the target of gossip, so the question is why do we keep doing it?
21:26
Despite people saying they were more interested in trivia, the researchers found that their brains were actually more excited by gossip.
26:02
Gossip is rewarding to our brains because it provides information, even if it is useless, and helps us bond with others.
30:42
Gossip can be a powerful tool for sharing important information, bonding with others, and even mobilizing a group to help someone in need.
35:06
Gossip can serve as a conduit for kindness, community, and care, but it can also be stopped if it becomes cruel or mean.
