Gossiping About Other People Boosts Self Esteem -- New Study

A group of Dutch researchers have found out that hearing positive and
negative gossip about another individual boosts self-reflection and
self-evaluation. Elena Martinescu at the University of Groningen said:
'

Women who receive negative gossip experience higher self-protection
concerns possibly because they believe they might experience a similar
fate as the person being the target of the gossip. Men who receive
positive gossip experience higher fear, perhaps because upward social
comparisons with competitors are threatening.'

Professor Martinescu added gossip provided individuals with indirect
social comparison information and provides an essential resource to
reflect on their behavior. She suggested that rather than trying to
block out gossip, we should 'accept gossip as a natural part of our
lives and receive it with a critical attitude regarding the
consequences it may have on ourselves and on others.'