Back in my youth ministry days we used to do a group activity to teach the premises of the negative effects of gossip and rumors. We would sit all the students in small group circles of about 10 per group and start a secret about someone, via a whisper, in the ear of one student. That student would then turn and whisper the secret in the ear of the student next to them. This exercise would repeat until the 
“secret” came back around to the leader. For the big reveal the last student would say out loud the secret they heard, and then the first student would share the secret they were told to start the game. Everyone would have a good laugh about the crazy differences between the end secret and the beginning. We would then take the opportunity to teach on the negativity of rumors that are shared, how easy it is to talk about each other and the end result of this sin of gossip.
In a recent 2017 study, researchers from the University of Pavia in Italy studied the effects of gossip on 22 women. The group found women’s brains released more oxytocin after gossiping, compared with having an ordinary conversation about, for example, the weather.
Oxytocin is a chemical released in the brain. When people hug or kiss a loved one, oxytocin levels increase; hence, oxytocin is often called “the love hormone.” In fact, the hormone plays a huge role in all pair bonding. Leading to it being nicknamed the ‘cuddle chemical’. (Source)
The results of this study claim these positive benefits: “The release of the hormone helps bring people closer together after they have gossiped, Dr Brondino says. (Source) Unfortunately, while it may give a feeling of closeness and bonding in the moment, the sin of gossiping’s results will be dividing, creating broken trust. Broken relationships.
Scientific proof: Sin has its pleasure for a season. (Hebrews 11:24-25)
I recently was doing a class on Altar Ministry for a local church and posed the question as we started the class: “How do you define gossip?” The answers were varied and across the board. I think in Christianity we all have definitions of what Gossip is. Some would say if it is true then it is not gossip to talk about it. After all the Bible tells us to not bear false (lie) witness about anyone, so if it is true its then it is OK to talk about. Others say it is the intent of the person telling the gossip that determines if it is OK to tell or not. Like If I share a something I know about Sally Sue to Billy Big Mouth but I do so “So Billy knows how to pray for Sally” Then that’s not gossip. I disagree.
Gossip, as defined by Wikipedia, is “idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others; the act of which is also known as dishing or tattling.”
My definition of Gossip is simple: if the person you are getting ready to speak to about something is not a party to the something you are getting ready to say, then it is gossip. Simple. If they are not a part of the subject then we don’t discuss the subject.
I believe that the sin of gossip is one of the fastest destroyers of the community of God’s people than anything else. It creates judgements where they don’t belong, carried offenses against one for the sake of another and broken trust, all of which ruin authentic relationships within the church.
But what does it do in the home? What happens when mom and dad sit and have a conversation with each other about Sally Sue? What happens when we are sitting in the living room in front of our children 
having said conversation? Did we just empower our children to be bullies? Did we encourage our children to judge others and gossip to their friends about someone else? Did we tell them its OK to know things about someone that that person didn’t want us to know? We need to make our homes a gossip free zone and encourage our children to not engage in those conversations.
Revival is Family. If we don’t model and teach our children on these topics we leave it to the world to do, and the world’s perspective will not be God or people honoring. And the worlds viewpoint will lead to sins pleasurable season devoid of the consequences. Broken hearts, broken relationships, Broken people. I think it is fitting Wiki calls gossip Idle talk, given Jesus words on that subject I think Jesus had an idea what the world would soon be doing with our words: “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36) Mom and dad, teach your children to value the heart of all people and not gossip. Set in your hearts that your homes will be a no gossip zone. Use your words to speak life in your homes, not death. (Proverbs 18:21)
I close with Paul’s words to the church at Ephesus, let this be a model for us parents in our homes and in front of our children: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
Oh and if you want a shot of oxytocin try hugging your spouse, hugging your kids or petting your dog. Study’s show that those activities will also cause your brain to release oxytocin, and those are way better ways to feel good without engaging in gossip.