What is it about Revealing Secrets that is Beneficial?

Abstract

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.

Longitudinal associations between keeping a secret and psychosocial adjustment in adolescence

“…Nevertheless, keeping secrets is generally considered to be stressful and burdensome for the secret-keeper, producing negative outcomes such as obsessive thoughts and emotional distress (Finkenauer & Rimé, 1998a). Conversely, confiding or revealing secrets is generally considered to alleviate the negative consequences of secrecy and to produce beneficial outcomes (e.g., Kelly, Klusas, von Weiss, & Kenny, 2001;Pennebaker, 1989). Building upon previous findings on the consequences of keeping and confiding secrets, the present study addresses secret-keeping in adolescence.…”

“…The outcome of confiding secrets will likely depend on whom adolescents choose to confide in and how this person reacts to the disclosure (Kelly et al, 2001;Kelly & McKillop, 1996). Research on resiliency suggests that the availability of caring parents, prosocial adults outside the family, or friends to confide in may all serve a protective function for adolescents' adjustment (e.g., Masten & Coatsworth, 1998).…”

Client concealment and disclosure of secrets in outpatient psychotherapy

“…Kelly et al, (2001) examined the roles of gaining insight and catharsis in whether or not a disclosure is deemed beneficial. In one study, 117 undergraduates from an introductory psychology class reflected on secrets they had previously shared and indicated whether or not they gained insight or catharsis in revealing them.…”

“…Experiments using writing techniques have shown that disclosing painful feelings or experiences is related to positive health outcomes, including increased immune functioning and decreased utilization of health services (Booth, Petrie & Pennebaker, 1997;Pennebaker, 1997;Pennbaker & Beall, 1986;Pennebaker, Kiecolt-Glaser, & Glaser, 1988;Rosenberg et al, 2002). In addition, studies focusing on disclosure in psychotherapy have shown positive effects (Farber et al, 2004;Farber, Berano, & Capobianco, 2006;, Kelly, Klusas, von Weiss, & Kenny, 2001). For instance, Farber et al (2004) found that the process of disclosing difficult information in therapy brought up initial feelings of shame, but ultimately led to feelings of relief and authenticity.…”

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“…La base principal de estas investigaciones sugiere que la auto-revelación es útil en la medida que nos permite darle sentido al pasado a través de la expresión de nuestras experiencias permitiéndonos ordenar y dar coherencia a estas vivencias y ayudarnos a sacar nuevas conclusiones sobre el evento traumático (Kelly, Klusas, von Weiss y Kenny, 2001;Pennebaker y Seagal, 1999). Al pensar y reestructurar estas experiencias se organizan los pensamientos y disminuye la tensión, haciendo más coherentes estos eventos en nuestras vidas (Pennebaker y Seagal, 1999).…”