The physical burdens of secrecy.

Abstract

The present work examined whether secrets are experienced as physical burdens, thereby influencing perception and action. Four studies examined the behavior of people who harbored important secrets, such as secrets concerning infidelity and sexual orientation. People who recalled, were preoccupied with, or suppressed an important secret estimated hills to be steeper, perceived distances to be farther, indicated that physical tasks would require more effort, and were less likely to help others with physical tasks. The more burdensome the secret and the more thought devoted to it, the more perception and action were influenced in a manner similar to carrying physical weight. Thus, as with physical burdens, secrets weigh people down.

The liberating consequences of creative work: How a creative outlet lifts the physical burden of secrecy

“…Keeping a secret, particularly a big secret, can cause stress and deplete cognitive resources (Lane & Wegner, 1995;Critcher & Ferguson, 2014). Recent research has drawn on the embodied cognition perspective to argue that secrets are also physically burdensome (Slepian, Masicampo, Toosi, & Ambady, 2012). According to this perspective, abstract concepts can become intertwined with physical experiences and eventually attain a reality of their own (Barsalou, 2008).…”

“…Hence, several studies have shown that people who keep a secret estimate that hills will be steeper and distances will be farther (Slepian et al, 2012). They are also less likely to help people with tasks, like carrying books, that require physical effort (Slepian et al, 2012).…”

“…Because secrets are metaphorically understood as physical burdens (e.g. carrying a secret weighs you down), people can actually experience the physical sensation of being "weighted down" when keeping a secret (Slepian et al, 2012). When people feel physically burdened, physical tasks are judged to require more effort (Proffitt, 2006).…”

Student Perceptions of Workplace Corruption and its Effect on Their Academic Motivation

“…Additionally, keeping secrets manifests as physiological effects and decreased visual perception, increasing the effort needed to complete tasks and reducing the likelihood of assisting others in need (Slepian, Masicampo, Toosi & Ambady, 2012). Furthermore, the power dynamic represented in a corruption relationship creates a secret that is enforced though punishment, where the holder of the secret is silenced through fear.…”

Secrets in the Classroom: Self-Disclosure about Sexual Abuse

“…In larger groups, self-disclosure has been identified as a critical component in building cohesion, but the majority of studies have used therapeutic groups as the basis for investigation (Alcoholics Anonymous, 1990;Empey & Rabow, 1961). Meta-analyses have found psychological benefits of self-disclosure, including less distress, negative affect, and depression (Frattaroli, 2006), whereas withholding secrets is associated with poorer psychosocial adjustment and the physical experience of being weighed down (Frijns & Finkenauer, 2009;Slepian et al, 2012). In another meta-analysis of 205 studies, women were found more likely to reveal secrets than men (Dindia & Allen, 1992).…”