New research suggests that, rather than being a damaging, rumor-spreading habit, gossiping could actually lower stress and help people overcome the frustration of seeing someone doing something wrong and getting away with it, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Psychologists from the University of California, Berkeley, found that volunteers' heart rates rose when they observed someone misbehaving.

However, this stopped when they were allowed to discuss what they had seen with others.

(China.org.cn January 29, 2012)

据英国《每日电讯报》报道，新研究发现，八卦并非是一种有害的、散播流言蜚语的习惯，相反，八卦的确可以减轻人们的压力，帮助人们克服失望感，比如看到某人做了错事却逃过一劫。

美国加州大学伯克利分校心理学家实验发现，志愿者们在发现有人行为不端时心率会上升。

不过，当他们被允许将所见所闻同别人讨论时，心率就会变得平稳。