Final answer:
Gossip is often intensified by 'social solidarity,' where people are connected in more than one context, especially through strong-tie relationships that foster closer and more complex social bonds.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gossip is enhanced by what sociologists call social solidarity: when people are linked to each other in more than one context. This concept is integral to the understanding of how various ties between individuals can influence social dynamics, including the spread of gossip. In particular, close or strong-tie relationships, where individuals have more multifaceted connections with one another, often in various social contexts, can lead to more intense and persistent forms of gossip. On the contrary, weak-tie relationships, which may arise from casual acquaintances or social media connections, tend to be less influential in the spread and maintenance of gossip.