gossip

Gossiping

The importance of gossip

These include:

• the trust involved in sharing gossip 
• the bonding effect of sharing secrets 
• a means of learning the unwritten rules of social groups 
• reminding group members about the importance of the group’s norms and values
• a way of deterring bad behaviour 
• comparing ourselves socially with others.

original article:

http://informalcoalitions.typepad.com/informal_coalitions/2008/11/the-importance-of-gossip-as-a-natural-dynamic-of-organizational-behaviour.html