GOSSIP IN SAME-GENDER AND CROSS-GENDER FRIENDS CONVERSATIONS

Gossip initiations and listener responses were examined in conversatio ns between 25 female-female, 19 male-male and 24 female-male pairs of friends. Participants were 18 to 21 years of age (mean age = 19) and h ad known one another at least 2 months (mean length = 24 months). Tran scribed tape recordings of 5-minute unstructured conversations were an alyzed for gossip initiations (evalutive comments about a familiar thi rd person) and gossip responses (discouraging, neutral, mildly encoura ging, moderately encouraging, highly encouraging). Overall, encouragin g responses were more likely than discouraging or neutral responses. G roup differences were also observed. Negative gossip was more likely t han discouraging or neutral responses. Group differences were also obs erved. Negative gossip was more likely to occur between female pairs t han between male pairs or cross-gender pairs. Also, among female pairs only, negative gossip was more likely than positive gossip. Furthermo re, the female pairs tended to respond to evaluative gossip with highl y encouraging comments. There were no gender differences within the cr oss-gender pairs associated with any behaviors. The findings suggest t hat women may be more likely than men to use and encourage gossip in s ame-gender friendships in order to establish solidarity and make socia l comparisons.