Although many women report being victimized by gossip, fewer report negative gossip. Female whistleblowers may not be aware that they are gossiping when they disclose such statements due to anxiety about what is being directed at them. Four subjects (N = 1709) investigated whether women believe their gossiping is motivated by anxiety and whether expressing concern about the target protects female whistleblowers from social costs, while at the same time harming the reputation of the target. Study 1 examined gender differences in motivation to gossip. Compared to men, women endorsed stronger anxiety than motivation to hurt, especially when gossiping about other women, suggesting that these motivations reflect sexist gossip among women. In Study 2, female gossipers who presented their negative gossip with concern (as opposed to neutral) were evaluated as more trustworthy and desirable as social and romantic partners. Study 3 replicated the positive ratings of involved female whistleblowers. Female participants were particularly fond of aggressive female gossipers, suggesting that self-concern may help avoid stigmatization of women. Male participants reported lower romantic interest in the target of female gossip when they read anxiety (compared to insult or not) gossip, suggesting that affective gossip can harm women’s romantic prospects. Study 4 revealed these patterns carried over to face-to-face interactions. A gossiping woman was preferred as a social partner when she shared her gossip about concern versus hatred. In addition, affective gossip harmed women’s opinions as effectively as malicious gossip. Overall, the findings suggest that negative gossip delivered with concern effectively harms the reputation of female targets, while also protecting the reputation of the gossipers, indicating an effective strategy in the competition of potential monogamous women.
That appears in a recent paper by Reynolds, Vaner, and Baumeister. Sincerely Mr student.
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