A research has found that adult women use the same gossiping techniques as teenage girls to damage another woman’s reputation and try to gain an advantage in romantic relationships. Women use gossip to target anyone who poses a threat to them.
“It’s consequential because a woman’s reputation still predicts her access to romantic partners, friendships or professional collaborations, and this research shows gossip can substantially shift social perceptions,” Reynolds said.
“People tend to give more weight to negative personal information because they consider it a truer indication of a person’s character than positive details.”
“This pattern suggests competitive females may be the primary perpetrators of adolescent bullying and then harmful workplace rumors,” Reynolds said.