Recent research into the dynamics of gossip suggests that it may reveal narcissistic tendencies in individuals you might know or even in yourself.
In February, the Self & Identity journal published a study titled ‘Openness to being gossiped about: understanding gossip from the target’s perspective’.
The study, led by researcher Andrew H. Hales, aimed to understand whether people actually enjoy being the subject of conversations, even if those conversations are predominantly negative.
To test their theory, the research team carried out five distinct studies.
During each study, college-age participants were presented with hypothetical scenarios where they were the topic of discussion among others.
In some of these scenarios, the gossip was positive, neutral, or not addressed at all.
However, in other scenarios, the participants encountered negative discussions about themselves.
Post-scenario, individuals were asked to rate their preferences on a scale from ‘strong opposition’ to ‘strong preference’ for being the subject of favorable or negative gossip, versus being ignored altogether.
The initial three studies highlighted general attitudes towards gossip, while also noting variances tied to demographics and personality traits, as reported by Psypost.
The fourth and fifth studies delved into how accurately people gauge others’ willingness to be gossiped about, with participants predicting how much others would welcome being discussed.
Study five was particularly intriguing, involving an experimental manipulation where participants experienced social inclusion or exclusion during an online ball-tossing game before the gossip scenarios.
This approach was used to determine if temporary exclusion would heighten a participant’s desire to be the topic of conversation.
After completing all five studies, the researchers analyzed the findings and discovered that men were more open to being the subject of gossip compared to women, especially when the gossip was neutral or negative.
Notably, both men and women who displayed narcissistic traits showed a stronger preference for being talked about.
Thus, if you or someone you know tends to enjoy being the focus of discussions, it might point toward narcissistic tendencies.
The recent study suggests that enjoying being the subject of gossip could be an indicator of narcissism, though this is not the only trait associated with the disorder.
According to the Mayo Clinic, other symptoms include having an exaggerated sense of self-importance and craving constant, excessive admiration.
Narcissists often believe they deserve special privileges or treatment and expect to be acknowledged as superior regardless of their achievements.
Research in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology also found that some narcissists feel more excluded.
Christiane Büttner, the lead author from the University of Basel, commented on the study’s findings, stating: “Feeling ostracized is a subjective experience based on the perception of social cues by the individual.
“Some may be intentionally ostracized, while others may merely believe they are being excluded when that’s not the case.
“Our findings suggest that individuals with higher levels of narcissism are more sensitive to exclusion cues, leading them to perceive ostracism more frequently.”