Spreading rumours is often frowned upon.
But gossiping could have a reproductive advantage, according to a new study.
Researchers have found people who gossip are more likely to be in a relationship and have children compared to those who prefer to keep schtum.
For the study, they analysed data from nearly 1,500 adults who participated in an online survey.
They were asked a series of questions that assessed relational aggression – behaviour that involves harming other people through gossiping, spreading rumours or excluding them from social groups.
Those who reported higher levels of relational aggression were found to be involved in romantic relationships more frequently than those with lower levels.
Further analysis revealed it was also linked with having a higher number of biological children.
The findings suggest gossiping and other forms of social manipulation may have helped people find and keep partners throughout human evolution, potentially giving them more opportunities to have children.
Spreading rumours could have a reproductive advantage, according to a new study. Pictured: A scene from Mean Girls – a film that centres on gossiping
Previous research has suggested covert aggression can help people compete for romantic partners by damaging the reputation or social standing of potential rivals.
Unlike physical aggression, gossiping and social exclusion allow someone to undermine competitors without risking a physical confrontation or obvious retaliation, the researchers said.
The team, from the University of Silesia, believe these subtle tactics may have offered an advantage throughout human evolution by helping people attract mates or hold on to existing partners.
‘We showed that peer-directed relational aggression is positively associated with a higher probability of being in a romantic relationship at the time of the study and had positive associations with the number of children in men and women,’ they said.
Writing in the journal Evolutionary Psychological Science, they said it’s possible that people already in relationships become more likely to gossip or socially exclude others as a way of discouraging potential rivals.
‘The present study showed that relational aggression could be under natural selection in present-day humans,’ they concluded.
‘People high on peer-directed relational aggression reported having more children, which suggests that relational aggression could be an alternative adaptive strategy compared to overt and physical aggression.
‘This could be particularly important in contemporary societies, where physical aggression is deemed to be a hallmark of pathology and is strongly socially prohibited.’
Previous research has revealed that gossiping about your boss with your co-workers can serve as a ‘bonding activity’Â
Separate research, published earlier this year, found gossiping about your boss at work can be good for you.
In the study, experts surveyed office workers about their gossiping habits.
Their results revealed that after dishing the dirt about the boss, many people felt guilt, shame or fear.
However, there was a surprising upside – talking behind a manager’s back was found to serve as a ‘bonding activity’ for workers.
‘Even when it goes against our better judgment, we all seem to gossip about our bosses from time to time,’ said study author Professor Rebecca Greenbaum, from Rutgers University.
‘We often tell ourselves, “I shouldn’t be doing this,” but it also feels really good.’
