Abstract
The paper presents gossip as a means of social control. It shows that gossip as informal social control is used mainly to maintain a group's norms and values.
It highlights the importance of the preventive character of gossip, because the possible existence of gossip affects an individual's perception of their reputation. The mere fact that an individual can be an object of gossip or public opinion and thereby be identified as a violator of standards, values or norms, has a great influence on their future social participation and reputation in that group.
Within the context of social control, the manuscript presents several theories regard- ing gossip - the theory of the evolutionary origin of gossip, the theory of gossip as a factor which reinforces social values and norms, the theory of gossip as a means for purely selfish personal gain, and finally the theory of pro-social gossip and gos- sip as a form of punishment. It also describes the fundamental functions of gossip and the reasons for its spread, and thereby highlights its societal importance.