Why do we want to gossip?

Commenting on an actress's appearance on a public appearance, or cutting off our colleague's hair, or even investigating the boss's new girlfriend: raise your hand if you've never caused such rumors. It is harmless and physical; it can also have many positive aspects and can move us to improve ourselves. While this type of conversation is often accompanied by feelings of envy and malicious self - indulgence. Yet, science says all of this is a fact of atavist and has also contributed to the survival of human species.

The question of curiosity is that there is often a natural movement of curiosity. We're interested in getting to know the facts of others, revealing “what boils in the” pot, being in step with the latest news. So far very well: less positive is trying to pry into things about who's the object of gossip, things that they want to keep private without sharing it with others. Even worse, after the “secretion” is discovered, they turn it into a conversation and comment with others. Although, as we know well, some of the pleasure of gossip lies in dividing something we should not know.

A positive aspect of the rumors lies in this form of separation, although a little confused, with the ability to join other members of our group and improve the cohesion that connects us to them. Some recent studies have highlighted the fact that surveillance is a real social ritual useful in strengthening relationships and equity networks. Sharing banned information or hot secrets helps us to learn more about our social group, improves our intimacy with them, and makes us feel part of the group.

Sad complacency, Gossip, is never without a certain amount of poisoning - talking about someone often means speaking ill of him. Rather, the true taste of gossip is hidden in this level of wickedness. Seeing a sextight-painted bikini actress without being able to hide the cellulite, or an imperfect match generates in us an undeniable sense of satisfaction: In short, the misfortunes of others satisfy us. The reason is simple: To see that a successful person has failed in one thing improves our self - esteem. Some studies have found that the joy of seeing others suffer is a mechanism found in a part of the brain called ventral stratraum, the same that is activated in pleasure and reward mechanisms. This feeling also has a scientific name: it's called Aikophilia (German Schadenfreude) and it's the feeling of satisfaction that we experience in the face of others' disaster. According to other studies, the mechanism underlying all of this is social confrontation: this malicious self - indulgence is based on observation that when people around us suffer from various events, we see ourselves better, especially if our self - esteem is low.

The rumors last a lifetime this is the belief expressed by evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar of Liverpool University. The ability to exchange information is what has enabled man to begin living in ever larger groups and to distinguish himself from other animals. For example, in the prehistoric community, curiosity about new tools developed by the cave neighbour to hunt more effectively helped the whole community create weapons and better tools. The rumors, briefly, would be functional for preserving species and improving themselves.

In short, if we do not allow ourselves, if it happens to be to be content with the calamities of others, we are allowed to think that the negative mood also has a good side. Zilia, for example, is based on the inevitable comparison between our situation and that of others. It's an inevitable fact, because self-esteem cannot begin by comparison with what other members of our group take, especially those we believe are more successful. This confrontation, at times so ruthless and painful, becomes a powerful incentive to improve itself. In light of these considerations, it's hard to call gossip a worthless thing.