Gossip gets bad rap, but psychology experts say it can actually benefit our mental health.
According to Thea Gallagher, PSYD, director of the wellness program at Nyu Langone Health, the activity can “make meanings for our world and situations.”
“It can also help you learn more about other people’s intentions when you’re sharing genuine information about what someone did or didn’t,” she said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
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Gossip can be useful in exposing certain behaviors of others so that people can protect themselves, Gallagher pointed out.
“Or if someone is struggling, like a sick parent, then they can actually give us more empathy.”
Talking can be useful in exposing certain behaviors of others so that people can protect themselves, experts said. (istock)
Gossip can also help people process their emotions before they can react, Gallagher suggested.
“If you’re irritated with a friend and talk about it with another friend, then you might actually be able to see the situation more clearly after you handle it with someone,” she said.
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The activity also provides a sense of bond and connection with others, according to experts.
“Human connection through shared information and communication is central to who we are and connects us with each other,” she said. “When we know they are revealing information to us, we may feel like we are approaching someone.
“Human connections through shared information and communication are at the heart of who we are and connect us with each other.”
“Be careful not to jump to conclusions with little information,” she warned.
Janet Beilamian, a licensed clinical social worker in Los Angeles, also emphasized the mental health effects of gossip, noting that it is considered “inherently negative.”
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“In some cases, that could certainly happen, but chatter can also serve as a form of breathing and emotional regulation,” she told Fox News Digital.
“If someone feels wrong or confused by social interaction, discussing it with a friend will help them handle what happened, gain validation and potentially reshape the experience.”
For children and teens, rumors can become a form of bullying, experts warned. (istock)
Dr. Brian Likuannan, a board-certified clinical psychologist in California, agreed that gossiping is beneficial by providing a “safe place to talk and connect.”
“If someone feels lonely, sad, rejected or abused, chatting with others could create a committee that will help alleviate some of these feelings,” he told Fox News Digital.
The law allows for the creation of a “uniformity level” between certain groups that may “feel like an outsider.”
Potential negative impacts
Experts also warned that rumors can sometimes backfire.
“People can lose faith in people who do gossip because if this person is rumbling about other people, they are likely rumouring about you,” Likuannan said.
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Overall, LiCuanan said he considers gossip “unhealthy for the heart and mind.”
“This behavior can usually perpetuate feelings such as anger or responsiveness,” he said. “The more people engage in these behaviors outside of these emotions, the higher the level of stress they have. And if you can do too much, this behavior can actually segregate them from others rather than bringing them together.”
Despite its potential benefits, one expert claimed that the rumors were overall “unhealthy for the mind and mind.” (istock)
Rumors can be used as a form of bullying, especially for children and teens. Gallagher pointed out, especially when the information is not true and is intended to hurt someone.
She suggested that anyone who launches gossip that can have malicious consequences should look for the motives of gossip in the first place.
Gossip at work
A recent office gossip survey of Livecareer’s 1,000 US workers revealed that workplace gossip is “wide-far.”
Workplace gossip is “ramping,” a career expert said. (istock)
47% of respondents said office gossip creates “tension and mistrust.” At the same rate, they said they don’t trust anyone at work with confidential information.
The survey found that 43% of respondents were found to be workplace gossip and 20% admitted that it was found to be false.
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In an interview with Fox News Digital, career expert Jasmine Escalera commented that workplace gossip promotes corporate culture in a “negative direction.”
“Workplace gossip is ramping and is taking a serious toll on office culture,” said the Florida-based expert. “In an era of increased layoffs, burnout, employee release and increased economic uncertainty, there’s no need to add extra stressors to the mix.”
Experts warned that workplace gossip could lead to toxic environments. (istock)
“Gossip can have a direct impact on workplace morale, erode trust among colleagues, and quickly lead to the onset of a toxic work environment,” she added.
Bayramyan suggests that in uncertain social environments, including the workplace, gossip can “help people understand complex dynamics.”
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“It’s mainly important to make sure gossip isn’t mean,” she advised, warning that “chronic negative gossip” can cause stress and affect mental health.
LiCuanan reverberated that workplace gossip can be problematic and sometimes threaten the job.
