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UNDERSTANDING GOSSIP
WHY PEOPLE GOSSIP AND HOW TO AVOID IT
Part of being a human being is socializing with fellow humans.
Everyone communicates with people at home, work, or in other settings with family members, colleagues, acquaintances, and friends.
Every interaction with other people depends on the level of closeness. The closer the relationship, the more personal topics discussed. The majority classify this discussion with close ones as gossip.
Per Meriam Webster, gossip is.
Why do people gossip, then?
Everyone gossips for different reasons, levels, and intentions. The common reasons are:
HABIT
Everything done repetitively becomes a habit. Gossiping is one conscious and unconscious habit developed over time. Habits are changeable and replaceable. Consider checking this article out to learn more about habits.
THE PURSUIT OF POWER
The attachment to the belief that humans are just limited beings dependent on external forces, their physical capabilities, wealth, and accolades led people to desire and chase power.
Some people feel powerful and relevant by sharing knowledge and information about someone known or unknown. The intention is to gain attention and show off.
SATISFYING THE WHIMS OF EGO
The ego operates in fear that it must stay secure. It secures itself through superiority over others. Some people gossip to damage someone’s reputation to feel whole and superior over others. A display of inferiority or playing the victim is another tactic used with the same intention.
RELEASE OF EMOTIONS
Some people are reminders of other people’s failures. They take revenge to manage their emotions of envy and jealousy through gossip, as these are challenging to process. They invent negative stories about others to ease their pain and suffering.
