THE TRUTH ABOUT: Accidental juicy gossip - Caught on Camera

Gossip is a very human activity. Some would even dare say it’s quintessentially human. And psychologists might just agree with that, so if you think you’re one of the few people who doesn’t care about gossip, drama, or “the tea,” then think again, because evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar says otherwise.

According to Dunbar’s “Social Grooming” theory, gossip is essentially the human version of physical grooming, like the kind you see among primates. But while monkeys pick bugs off each other to build trust and strengthen social bonds, humans do something similar by sharing secrets and information, creating a sense of belonging and connection.

In a more shocking twist, a landmark UC Riverside study found that the average adult spends about 52 minutes a day gossiping. But here’s the kicker: it’s not necessarily done with malicious intent, nor is it always about dramatizing a situation that may or may not actually happen. Instead, 75% of the time, it’s neutral and, well, boring.

Let’s say someone at your job is switching teams, or someone else just got a new car that looks really nice, and you’re sharing that bit of information. That’s neutral, harmless, and essentially means nothing bad comes from sharing it. And most people do this kind of gossip, which is still gossip nonetheless.

Curiously, though, hearing juicy secrets or unexpected information about someone you know may actually give you a dopamine boost. Neuroscientists at Dartmouth College found that when people share particularly engaging information, it can light up the brain's reward centers, activating the same pathways triggered by things like sugar or even winning money.

It can also spike your heart rate. So when people accidentally hear that someone is unfair, deceitful, or even unfaithful, their heart rate may increase. Studies also suggest that sharing that secret with someone else can significantly lower stress levels. So, it's a good thing these people had Reddit to share it with.

Funnily enough, the word “gossip” wasn’t always associated with what we think of today, which is surprising considering that Bridgerton has shown us otherwise. But etymologists point out that “gossip” comes from the Old English god-sibb, meaning god-sibling or godparent. It eventually became a term women used to describe their closest female friends who were with them in the delivery room during childbirth.

Only centuries later did it take on a negative meaning. In fact, in 16th- and 17th-century Britain, women accused of spreading rumors or eavesdropping could be punished with an iron mask called a “scold’s bridle,” with a flat piece of iron placed over the tongue so they couldn’t speak. Oof.