Nicole Hagen Hess

Nicole Hagen Hess is an anthropologist and professor at Washington State University, known for her research on the social dynamics of gossip across cultures. In a recent article, she discussed how gossip serves as a mechanism for exchanging reputational information and establishing social hierarchies within groups, emphasizing its role in both bonding and social control. Hess argues that gossip is not merely malicious talk but a complex form of communication that has evolutionary roots, reflecting humanity's need for social connection and survival strategies.