Scientists have discovered that a tendency toward gossip and social manipulation may increase the chances of finding a partner and having more children. The study was published in Evolutionary Psychological Science.
Gossip and rumor-spreading could offer a reproductive advantage, according to researchers from the University of Silesia. The study involved approximately 1,500 adults, who answered questions assessing their inclination toward aggression through gossip, spreading rumors, and excluding others from social groups.
Those who more frequently employed such tactics were more likely to be in romantic relationships and had a greater number of biological children. The researchers suggested that social manipulation helped people find and retain partners throughout evolution.
“We demonstrated that peer-directed relational aggression is positively associated with a higher likelihood of being in a romantic relationship and has a positive link with the number of children for both men and women,” the study states.
Unlike physical aggression, gossip and social exclusion allow individuals to undermine rivals’ reputations without the risk of direct confrontation. The authors of the work note that this may have been an evolutionarily advantageous strategy.
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