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Openness to Being Gossiped About: Understanding Gossip from the Target's Perspective
Andrew H Hales1, Meltem Yucel2, Selma C Rudert3
1University of Mississippi.
Summary
Most people dislike being gossiped about, but some, particularly men and narcissistic individuals, welcome it, even negative gossip. People often misjudge others
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Communication Studies
Background:
- Gossip is a common social behavior.
- The target's perspective on gossip is under-researched.
- Assumptions about preferences regarding gossip require empirical investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate individuals' preferences regarding being the subject of gossip.
- To identify demographic and personality factors influencing these preferences.
- To examine the accuracy of individuals' perceptions of others' gossip preferences.
Main Methods:
- Two nationally representative surveys were conducted.
- A meta-analysis of existing studies was performed.
- Confirmatory experiments were employed to test perception accuracy.
Main Results:
- A general aversion to being gossiped about was observed, unless the gossip was positive.
- Male gender, higher narcissism, and older age predicted differing desires to be the subject of gossip.
- Participants overestimated the extent to which others desire to be the subject of positive gossip.
Conclusions:
- Individuals generally prefer not to be gossiped about, with notable exceptions.
- Personality traits like narcissism and demographic factors like gender and age influence gossip preferences.
- There is a tendency to misperceive others' preferences regarding gossip, particularly for positive gossip.
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