Gossip as an effective and low-cost form of punishment
Behavioral and Brain SciencesPublished 31 January 2012
Matthew Feinberg, Joey T. Cheng, Robb Willer
Citations59
SJR quartileQ2
SJR score0.55
SNIP0.43
Generate an AI Snapshot to get a quick, structured summary of this paper.
Study Snapshot
ObjectiveStudy objective
MethodsResearch methodology
PopulationPopulation studied
Sample sizeSample sizes
OutcomesStudy outcomes here
ResultsStudy results comes here
LimitationsResearch study limitations comes here
A concise AI-generated summary of the paper will appear here once you click Generate AI Snapshot.
Abstract
The spreading of reputational information about group members through gossip represents a widespread, efficient, and low-cost form of punishment. Research shows that negative arousal states motivate individuals to gossip about the transgressions of group members. By sharing information in this way groups are better able to promote cooperation and maintain social control and order.
Keywords
PsychologySocial Sciences
Journal of the History of the Behavioral SciencesGrooming, gossip, and the evolution of language
2,059 Citations1998Robin Dunbar
American Sociological ReviewGroups Reward Individual Sacrifice: The Status Solution to the Collective Action Problem
664 Citations2009Robb Willer
NatureThe efficient interaction of indirect reciprocity and costly punishment
517 Citations2006Bettina Rockenbach, Manfred Milinski
Advances in experimental economics and evolutionary biology are combined to show that costly punishment and reputation formation, respectively, induce cooperation in social dilemmas and that punishment is maintained when a combination with reputation building is available, however, at a low level.
Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesGossip as an alternative for direct observation in games of indirect reciprocity
390 Citations2007Ralf D. Sommerfeld, Hans-Jürgen Krambeck +2 more
It is evident that gossip has a strong manipulative potential and is shown that gossip about cooperative individuals is more positive than gossip about uncooperative individuals, gossip comments transmit social information successfully, and cooperation levels are higher when people encounter positive compared with negative gossip.
Social Psychological and Personality ScienceHow the Grapevine Keeps You in Line
197 Citations2011Bianca Beersma, Gerben A. van Kleef
Evolution and Human BehaviorConcerns about reputation via gossip promote generous allocations in an economic game
181 Citations2008Jared Piazza, Jesse M. Bering
Language in SocietyInformation withholding as a manipulative and collusive strategy in Nukulaelae gossip
141 Citations1989Niko Besnier
Journal of Anthropological ResearchFijian Gossip as Adjudication: A Communication Model of Informal Social Control
39 Citations1980Andrew Arno
Handbooks of sociology and social researchThe Trouble with Invisible Men
25 Citations2010Robb Willer, Matthew Feinberg +3 more
This review establishes that individuals receive diverse social and material benefits for developing a reputation as a generous person, and that reputational dynamics may have encouraged the evolution of prosociality via biological and/or cultural evolution.