Celebrity: Gossip Theory

Question 1

Give a brief summary of evolutionary theory

Answer 1

Darwinian selection process, sexual arousal has adaptive function: sexual reproduction, we have a Stone Age mid: EEA, not much recent adaptation = able to be tricked by media

Question 2

What is gossip?

Answer 2

exchanging information about someone who is not present

Question 3

How did our ancestors live in the EEA?

Answer 3

smaller, isolated groups, knowing what was happening in the group gave reproductive advantage: potential mates, who had high status, how to achieve success like others

Question 4

What would happen to those who were good at gossiping?

Answer 4

more likely to pass on genes = genetic hard wiring for gossip now

Question 5

What do modern celebrities now remind us of?

Answer 5

wealthy, high status, success: reminds us of ancestors that would have been gossiped about

Question 6

What is another function of gossiping?

Answer 6

Dunbar 1996: to act like grooming in primates: health benefits and bonds social groups

Question 7

What research supports the gossip theory?

Answer 7

De Backer 2007: 837P, interviews with 103, older people do celeb gossip as helps to form social networks, celebrities = mutual friends, younger most interested in international celebs (more prestigious)

Question 8

What research shows the gossip theory to be universal?

Answer 8

Holt and Lewis 2009: everywhere people love talking about others, shows that gossip isn’t dependent on culture, result of evolution