What Matters Most in Supporting Cooperation, the Gossip Content or the Gossiper’s Intention? Simulating Motive Interpretation in Gossip Dynamics

Abstract

Gossip provides individuals a great volume of information, which allows them to make informed decisions and better adapt to the environment around them. Like all pieces of information, however, if not correctly interpreted, gossip can lead to harmful consequences for individuals. Indeed, computational models have portrayed a complex picture on how gossip impacts cooperation, identifying several limitations of the mechanism. Recent theoretical models and empirical studies have shown how interpreting the information received through gossip is a key component to understand how gossip influences individuals and groups. Thus, we built an agent-based model where we examine two reaction mechanisms for different reputation systems, in which agents first interpret the motive behind gossip and then react on the basis of this interpretation. While the first mechanism relies on an encompassing reputation system in which all pieces of information are used to inform future decisions with other group members, the second mechanism comprises a two-layer reputation system, in which agents' actions are separate from agents' reliability as gossipers. Our results support previous empirical findings asserting gossip as an effective way to sustain initial cooperation, and offer a solution for gossip driven by negative motives: as long as gossip receivers ignore the information provided by gossipers they deem unreliable and don't punish them by refraining from cooperative interactions with them, cooperation can be sustained.

Punishing or praising gossipers: How people interpret the motives driving negative gossip shapes its consequences

“…In the short term, sending gossip might not lead to large benefits or costs for senders based on the motivational interpretation of receivers, a finding that resonates with results showing that sharing false gossip does not have negative consequences for senders (Fonseca & Peters, 2021). However, the costs of gossip could reveal themselves in the longer run and future research is needed to test the long‐term consequences of having a negative reputation as a gossiper (Testori et al., 2023).…”

“…Likewise, Lee & Barnes (2021) argued that to understand the consequences of gossip for gossipers, it is imperative to consider how receivers interpret the content of gossip and the motivation behind it. Finally, in a computational model, Testori and colleagues (Testori et al, 2023) showed the impact of motive…”

“…Likewise, Lee & Barnes (2021) argued that to understand the consequences of gossip for gossipers, it is imperative to consider how receivers interpret the content of gossip and the motivation behind it. Finally, in a computational model, Testori and colleagues (Testori et al., 2023) showed the impact of motive interpretation for group cooperation, highlighting how the interpretation, rather than the original motive with which a gossip was shared, shapes group cooperation. The complexity of gossip motives' interpretation and the manifold consequences for the gossip sender is the central mechanism that the current studies shed light on.…”