The Real Dirt on Gossip

Description

More than 50 million North Americans every week read gossip magazines, reality TV shows are exploding in popularity, Twitter feeds buzz incessantly with rumors, and office conversation continually feeds the innuendo mill. But while this kind of talk can indeed be nasty when idle chatter turns out to be a lie, gossip can also be beneficial. Researchers now say that gossip often serves as a tool for allowing people to gauge their own moral behavior, and through its dissemination of information, may provide clues as to what is acceptable conduct within a specific social environment. This program explores the science, the history, and the evolutionary dynamic of gossip and takes a look at its impact on popular culture.

Runtime

48 min

Subjects

Genre

Date of Publication

[2013], c2012

Database

Films on Demand

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