Why residency feels like a high school

I'm so frustrated with the social drama that comes with residency. It often feels like I'm back in high school, where people's free time is spent gossiping about co-residents, attendings, and other colleagues. Social gatherings seem like nothing more than an excuse for talking behind others' backs. At least once every six months, I hear that someone doesn't like me, even though I’ve never interacted with them. It's especially discouraging since I'm in pathology, which is generally viewed as a more laid-back, collegial field (honestly, it's not).

Will this circus be over after residency, or is it just a feature of academic environments?