The Secret Social Superpower: Why Gossip Is Essential to Human Bonding

Furthermore, gossip serves a critical, though informal, role in maintaining social order and group cohesion. It acts as a form of social policing, deterring selfishness and "free-riding" behavior. When people know that their actions, particularly negative or non-cooperative ones, might become the subject of discussion and damage their reputation, they are more likely to adhere to group norms. The fear of social exclusion, facilitated by reputational damage spread via the grapevine, encourages cooperative behavior for the greater good of the community.