Gossip is a Social Skill

Dr. Frank McAndrew, evolutionary social psychologist from Knox College, explain why he thinks gossiping is not a character flaw.  You probably can’t forget the sound of whispers and giggles that filled the halls in high school and after thinking it would go away after high school, you were probably disappointed to hear the exact same kind of whisperings and giggles filling the cubicles at work. Gossip seems like almost an innate part of human nature- and no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to escape it- whether it’s whispers amongst coworkers or pictures filling the tabloids. We all know gossip can be damaging- it can burn bridges, hurt feelings, and kill reputations. But, is it possible that gossiping can actually be good for us too?