Why Do People Like To Gossip? According To Experts: To Strengthen The Ego And Feel Powerful

Illustration of motivation for people who like to gossip (Pexels/Yan Krukov)

YOGYAKARTA – Gossip is understood as an activity to talk about negative things about other people. But if asked otherwise, of course people who gossip will not like being made gossip material. So, what is the real motivation for people to gossip if they don't want negative things about themselves to be talked about by other people?

According to Psychology Today, gossip is information that is shared about a third party who is not present. Gossip is different from the human tendency to talk about other people because when gossiping tends to focus on negative information to demean the target. Such as appearance, achievement, to the behavior of someone in a third party position.

According to behavioral analyst for the FBI and author of The Like Switch: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Influencing, Attracting, and Winning People Over, John R. Schafer, Ph.D., there are several motivations for people to gossip. First, to take revenge for not liking the behavior of a third person. Dislike of the target is validated and justifies the hurtful behavior.

Most people gossip because gossiping is fun. By talking about other people's negativity and secrets, one feels powerful and strengthens one's ego. Gossip also makes a person feel relieved because he did not experience the same disaster.

Sometimes, gossip chatter also flows and is almost unconscious. Usually to break up the monotonous routine life and spice up the conversation.

According to a 2015 study by X. Peng et al., people who hear positive or negative gossip about themselves show more activity in their brain's prefrontal cortex. This section helps people navigate complex social behaviors.

The caudate nucleus, the reward center in the brain, is activated in response when someone hears negative gossip about celebrities. Predictably, people are happier when they hear positive gossip about themselves and feel restless when they hear negative gossip.