Studies Find That Gossip Isn T Just Loose Talk Analysis

Model Essay for “Studies Find That Gossip Isn’t Just Loose Talk”

Malicious gossip has been known to hurt relationships, damage reputations, and cause other social harms. But is all gossip destructive? In the article “Studies Find That Gossip Isn’t Just Loose Talk”, Alina Tugend argues that certain gossip can have important social functions. She notes that certain gossip can provide us with information about people who might mistreat us. Tugend adds that people have an overwhelming urge to gossip about people who they feel have wronged them. However, Tugend notes that many people believe gossip does not have any beneficial function. I feel that the article makes two important points when it discusses how gossip can push people to act

The article discusses an experiment that proved this point. The researchers were trying to find out if people cheat or play fairly when there is a possibility that others will gossip, if they cheat. To test this, the researchers set up an online game in which players could see how others were playing the game, including any cheating behavior. Through this experiment, they found out that people felt compelled to play more “fairly” because the other players can see and gossip about any cheating behavior. I feel that these results are interesting because it shows how people will change their behavior to avoid being the topic of gossip. I can imagine that the participants in this experiment wanted to avoid being labeled a cheater and then become outsider in the group. This reminds me when I play Monopoly with my friends. There are certain times during the game that I can cheat, and maybe take extra money from the bank to give me an advantage in the game. But I rather win or lose “fair and square”, then risk being caught cheating, and being labeled a cheater. Knowing my friends, my cheating ways will become an immediate gossiping topic, which I, like the experiment participants, want no part