The virtues of gossip | Richard Weiner | TEDxMiami

Richard Weiner believes that gossip has multiple benefits for the gossiper, the listener, the group and the society, and he is set to destroy the common myths about gossip.

Richard Weiner is the author of 23 books, including Webster's New World Dictionary of Media and Communications, found in major libraries around the world, and Professional's Guide to Public Relations Services, a textbook at many colleges.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

I have some gossip for you.

Raise your hand if you're a gossiper.

(Cheering)

Oh, I see quite a few brave people.

Terrific!

Do you think gossip is mostly
nonsense and idle talk?

Do you think gossip is a sin?

Do you think gossip is harmful, hostile?

Do you think gossip is mostly
about celebrities?

What's your opinion about Miley Cyrus?

(Laughter)

If you answered "yes,"

I'm going to destroy
common myths about gossip.

Yes, I know that all major religions
prohibit or discourage gossip.

It's a paradox that
almost everyone gossips.

Fortunately, gossip benefits the gossiper,

the listener, the group and our society.

In my career in media
and public relations,

I learned the value of gossip.

I've written 23 books,

including Webster's New World Dictionary
of Media and Communications.

(Applause)

Thank you.

(Applause)

I also write under the name
of Stephen King.

(Laughter)

Most dictionaries define gossip

with such words as
"informal conversation,"

"idle talk," "rumor."

"Idle talk" - I don’t like that.

Here's my definition:

Gossip is a written or spoken conversation

about the private lives of other people.

(Laughter)

Usually judgmental,

gossip often provides a moral barometer.

Many dictionaries
equate gossip with rumor.

There is a big difference.

Gossip usually has an identifiable source.

Rumors usually do not.

Gossip usually has a basis in truth.

Rumors usually are false.

We now are in a gossip boom,

with more than a billion people gossiping
on Facebook and other blogs,

gossiping in person, talking and texting
on the phone and other media.

Scientists around the world
are studying how and why we gossip.

We've been gossiping long before blogs,
TV, newspapers and magazines.

Cavemen needed gossip for their survival.

Cavemen used gossip to find friends,

avoid enemies

and locate the best places for food,
hunting and protection.

"And what's with that woman
in the next cave?"

(Laughter)

Social networks existed

ever since early villagers found
common interests with their neighbors.

Online social networks are the new tribes.

When four psychologists
at the University of California, Berkeley

reported recently
that gossiping has major benefits,

media around the world
pressed the "like" button.

In the experiments,

students were hooked up
to heart rate monitors

to measure the effects of gossip.

It was front-page news

because it contradicted
the long-held belief that gossip is bad.

Everyone gossips.

It's so natural we're hardly aware of it.

(Laughter)

About half of our
conversation time is gossip.

There's no avoiding it.

We gossip mostly about people we know.

Only a small part is about famous people,
which is what the media concentrate on.

Much of our gossip is positive or neutral.

Gossip about celebrities is more negative.

Gossip reduces stress,

boosts self-esteem,

(Laughter)

bonds friendship -

(Laughter)

and these are all data from
the University of California psychologists

who report in a scientific journal -

fuels the stock market,

influences voting,

and changes the way we see people
and how they see us.

Infants as young as six months
can judge character

and detect differences
between good and bad behavior.

We start gossiping
soon after we learn to talk.

Women were once associated with gossip.

Men gossip as much as women,

(Applause)

but in different ways and places.

Men gossip more about people

associated with sports, politics and sex.

Progesterone is a hormone in women

that reduces anxiety
and enhances friendship.

While gossiping,

women have a slightly higher level
of progesterone than non-gossipers -

again from a scientific journal.

Scientists are studying
the increased flow of pleasure hormones

during gossiping

and identifying specific sites
in the brain associated with gossip

and specific hormones:

dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin.

Oxytocin boosts contentment,
generosity, empathy and trust,

all potential components of gossip.

Active gossipers
have bigger brains, no kidding.

(Laughter)

Individuals with big social networks,

gossipers,

have a slightly larger
prefrontal cortex area of their brains.

Gossip thrives in small towns
and isolated areas.

In totalitarian countries, gossip often
is more accurate than government reports.

In our country, gossip is a way of life

in college fraternities and sororities,

military housing,

assisted living facilities and prisons.

It's an easy language to use with people
of similar lifestyle and interests,

such as neighbors, athletes,
students and workers.

It's a way to convey personal information

accurately, efficiently and enjoyably.

Here's a surprise:

some companies prohibit gossip
in their offices.

Most are small companies.

Recent studies indicate
the harm created by anti-gossip rules.

About 60 years ago,

America's number one gossiper
was Walter Winchell.

His gossip column was
in more than a thousand newspapers.

His radio and TV audiences
were greater than any program today.

Now, Paris Hilton, Gorka, TMZ

and other digital media
convey celebrity gossip

throughout the day and night
around the world.

Also important are the gossip magazines

such as People, Star, Us
and many, many others

and the supermarket tabloids
such as the National Enquirer.

My mission today

has been to convince you
that gossip has many benefits.

It's possible that other animals gossip:

chimpanzees and maybe dolphins.

I have three points.

One, gossip is good, so spread the word.

(Laughter)

Two, be comfortable as a gossiper.

(Laughter)

Three, don't criticize other gossipers.

(Laughter)

(Applause)

Thank you and good night.

(Laughter)

Honestly now,

raise your hand if you're a gossiper.

(Laughter)

Seems to me I see more hands
up now than before.

(Laughter)

By the way, have you heard that ...

(Applause)