2004/05/18 by Eric K. Foster · 2 citations
Social Sciences · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Psychology · #Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation #Plant and animal studies #Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
paper · doi:10.1037/1089-2680.8.2.78
openalex publication_date 2004/05/18 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
A half century of gossip research from multiple disciplines is reviewed. Discussed are definitions of the construct; social, evolutionary, and personal functions of the practice; and data collection methods. Though people engage in the practice frequently, there has been relatively little psychological research on gossip. The layperson's understanding of the term is included in, but insufficient to encompass, definitions used by researchers. Most data are ethnographic and discursive, and few parametric data exist. The area could benefit from better experimental methods and instruments. Neurobiological and social network analysis methods are promising foundations for further study. There are real-world implications for understanding gossip. Strengthening gossip theory and research methods will beneficially inform the way we view the practice in context.