Gossip: Benefits and disadvantages of gossiping, talk behind someone's back only after knowing the right way

There is hardly anyone who can claim that he does not gossip. Everyone gossips a little bit throughout the day. The question is why? Why does our conscious mind like gossiping? What is there in this habit of gossiping that scientists consider correct and call a social skill?

Meghna was proud that she could tell about anyone's personality by judging their body language, facial expressions, their voice, or dialect. Whether she portrays the character of any person in front of others, that person turns out to be like that. But a time came when Meghna realized that she had made a mistake in judging a particular person correctly. This happened because she used to portray the personality of any person not by looking at his nature but based on things heard from around. After this incident, Meghna understood that it is not necessary that what we think about a person for the first time is the truth.

We create the personality of any new person on our own. Then, in his absence, we start discussing him with others, which creates the same image of him in society. In common parlance, these discussions or talks done behind someone's back are called 'gossip'. That is, whatever is going on in our hearts and minds about a person, we start sharing it with others. Research done from time to time shows that people gossip for at least one hour every day, in which the rate of negative gossip is higher.

Gossiping is natural

Research by Florida State University of America says that women like to gossip a lot. For them, commenting on others is a normal thing. Often women gossip about other women's dress, style, looks, ways of public behavior, relations with others, matters of workplace, promotion issues, and health problems. So many women have the habit of keeping a close eye on the events happening around them. They feel that it reduces the monotony of their life.

According to Megan Robbins, professor of psychology at the University of California, gossiping is natural. It strengthens relationships. Yes, it is better if this gossip is neutral and positive because if it is negative, it can hurt the mind. Apart from this, being a part of such discussions continuously can surround you with stress.

Women ahead in gossip

Women are often accused of enjoying presenting others' words by adding spice or salt to them. But when we look at the research published in the journal 'Social, Psychological, and Personality Science', a different truth comes to the fore.

In this research conducted by the University of California, when the conversations of 467 adult men and women were recorded for two to five days, 75 percent of the gossip was found to be neutral and the rest was a mixture of positive and negative. It is clear from this that gossip is not always negative, malicious, or false. Yes, every false gossip is a gossip. Apart from this, when we make someone's matters public without taking them into confidence, then that gossip is considered fatal.

Like consolation for the heart

Senior psychiatrist Gagandeep Kaur says everyone is interested in others' lives. When women gossip, everyone shares negative things about their lives. But this does not bring any change in their situation or the behavior of a particular person. Yes, the gossiper feels momentary relief. They feel that at least they were able to express their feelings somewhere. At least someone heard them. They console their heart that not only negative and disappointing things are happening in their life, but the story of others is also similar to theirs.

Gossiping is a temporary, short-term escape mechanism, that is, a behavior method adopted to avoid unpleasant facts or responsibilities. In which you start running away from your problems, person, or situation instead of facing it. It gives you immediate relief from the problems. But, it does not have any long-term effect.

(PC: ISTOCK)