Two studies explored what it is about revealing secrets that makes people feel better about them. In Study 1, undergraduates (N = 137) indicated whether they had gained new insights or catharsis from revealing secrets to confidants in the past. Gaining insights predicted feeling positive about the secrets, whereas gaining catharsis predicted feeling negative about them. In Study 2, undergraduates (N = 85) were randomly assigned to write about their (a) secrets while trying to gain new insights, (b) secrets while trying to gain catharsis, or (c) previous day. The new insights group felt more positive about their secrets than did the other groups and came to terms with their secrets more than did those in the catharsis group. Not coming to terms with the secrets was associated with feeling negative about them. It is suggested that focusing solely on venting emotions may be an unhelpful or even harmful way of dealing with secrets.

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