Why Do We Gossip?

Very few people proudly admit to this, and we're all guilty at some point in our lives for doing it. "GOSSIPING" Gossiping is a very common behavior, and we all know doing it is wrong, but we just can't seem to help ourselves. It happens everyday, and it can be hard to resist listening to and sharing stories about other people's business. But sometimes it's an escape from ourselves, from our own pettiness, from our own ugliness.

We know we shouldn't talk about people behind their backs, but we do it anyway. People gossip because of envy, to feel superior, for attention, out of anger or unhappiness, when we feel unfairly treated, to feel like part of the group or sometimes me meant no malice by it. We as humans have a powerful drive to know about other people's lives, and we judge negative information to be more revealing than positive facts. And most of these are passing judgement.

It might seem that there is no harm done in discussing someone's imperfection to socially engage in a conversation, but gossiping can be a risky activity. It can tarnish a person reputation, and the worst part is that we usually gossip based in limited or false information.

Sometimes Gossiping can be put to good use. It can lead to greater self-knowledge and acceptance of your darker side. Perhaps we really are concerned and have this overwhelming urge to share information about a problem, in the hope that the listening individual will take action.