A majority of women only hear properly when gossiping or eavesdropping

Women only really hear properly when they are gossiping
or eavesdropping on other people's conversations, according to new research.
Telegraph.co.uk
09 May 2009

More than two thirds of women admitted they hear most intently when they are trying to eavesdrop on an argument taking place nearby

More than two thirds of women admitted that a gossip with friends is the only time they are properly listening to what is being said.

The same percentage think they hear most intently when they are trying to eavesdrop on an argument taking place nearby.

Only half of men said they only hear properly when gossiping, while four in 10 admitted to listening closely to other people's conversations.

The poll of 2,000 people also found that more than one in five men reckon they always listen carefully to every word, and while less than one in five of women said the same.

Ladies are also most likely to switch off when listening to their work colleagues, with the average woman catching what they say just 64 per cent of the time.

Just two thirds of what their boss says gets picked up, while women admitted they only really hear 70 per cent of the conversations they have with their partner.

But when it comes to talking to their best friend, women give their full attention to more than three quarters of what is spoken.

Researchers also revealed that 84 per cent of Brits think they are a good listener, with 20 per cent saying they listen to every word...





Men 'gossip more than women to boost their egos'
By Nicole Martin in Toronto
15 Jun 2001

MEN indulge in gossip more than women about secret liaisons, inept lovers and overpaid colleagues, a study says today.

It helps boost their confidence, says the survey of American college students. Women are more inclined to pass on tittle-tattle to bond with their friends and build closer relationships with colleagues.

Holly Hom, a PhD student at the University of Virginia, asked a group of students to write a weekly diary, noting how they felt when they gossiped about people. She said it was clear that both sexes enjoyed passing on mischievous information about others, but men enjoyed it more.

Presenting her findings at the American Psychological Society's annual conference in Toronto, she said the report challenged the widely-held view that women gossiped more than men. She said: "Men definitely seem to be getting more out of gossiping than women.

"We found that men felt better about themselves when they criticised another person's behaviour. It gave them a sense of moral superiority and showed others that they knew the difference between right and wrong."...