An eye-opening look at the psychology of why we keep the secrets we keep, how to better understand and cope with them, and when (and how) we should bring them to light.Think of a secret that you’re keeping from others. It shouldn’t take long; behavioral scientist Michael Slepian finds that on average, we are keeping as many as thirteen secrets at any given time. His research involving more than 50,000 participants from around the globe shows that the most common secrets include: lies we’ve told, addiction or mental health challenges, a hidden relationship, financial struggles, and more. Our secrets can weigh heavily upon us. Yet the burden of secrecy, Slepian argues, rarely stems from the work it takes to keep a secret hidden. Rather, secrets are something we must “carry” because we do so alone, without the support of others. Whether we are motivated to protect our reputation, a relationship, or a loved one’s feelings, or are pursuing some personal or professional goal, one thing is cl
