Dunbar why gossip is good for you

The alternative type of theory is that the complex social world in which primates live has provided the impetus for the evolution of large brains. The main version of the social intelligence theory, sometimes known as the Machiavellian intelligence hypothesis, has the merit of identifying the thing that sets primates apart from all other animals — the complexity of their social relationships. Existing subscribers, please log in with your email address to link your account access.

Paid quarterly. Inclusive of applicable taxes VAT. Skip to content Site Navigation The Atlantic. Popular Latest. The Atlantic Crossword. Humans use talking to keep relationships alive, this is more efficient because it can be done while doing other things while grooming that apes do can only be done by itself.

The study talks about how gossip keeps people together because it helps us to relate to one another. I find it very interesting that even though we evolved from grooming one another to talking to each other to get to know a person, we still revert back to the primate ways once we find a relationship that we truly care about.

We do this through touching, such as hold hands, hugging, or even kissing and giving back massages. These actions show that we truly care about the other person and helps us bond with them in ways that word can not do. You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Google account. You are commenting using your Twitter account. Each participant could contribute these points to their group — in which case, the points would be doubled and redistributed equally — or keep them for themselves.

Crucially, they could inform their new groups how much someone had contributed in earlier exercises, and could vote to exclude someone who had behaved selfishly from a round entirely. Having eliminated those bad apples, remaining participants were then able to work more harmoniously and inflate their collective pot. Individuals who had given less than half their points initially increased their contributions by the end of the latter rounds, while those who had been excluded gave significantly more after they were allowed back into the game, conforming to the less selfish behavior.

Gossiping also says something about the relationships people have with each other. So, keep on talking. And when your conversation turns to gossip, as it inevitably will, remember that some good can come of it — with the right intentions, of course. The original version of this story misstated the methodology of research published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science in