Teen Guys Spread Rumors, Gossip as Much as Gals Do

(Our happy hour fact to amaze your drinking buddies with.)

Teenage boys are just as likely as girls to engage in indirect social aggression, such as spreading rumors, gossiping and intentionally excluding others.

The findings are the result of a new study, which was based on an analysis of 148 smaller studies which included almost 74,000 teens. The results run counter to the "Mean Girls" stereotype that girls are more likely to terrorize their peers with psychological forms of aggression.

In fact, the most physically aggressive school-age males are also the most likely to engage in this kind of indirect aggression.

However, telling your local bully that his inclination to gossip is not actually a feminine trait will not keep you from being punched in the face.