J Pers Soc Psychol November 2023 PMID 37956068

The bright side of secrecy: The energizing effect of positive secrets.

Michael L Slepian, Katharine H Greenaway, Nicholas P Camp, Adam D Galinsky

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Mentions

92
Peak: 14 in Nov 2023
across 4 sources since Nov 2023

Extended reach

674,824
potential audience

Total likes

84

Video views

486

Mentions per month

Nov 2023 – Oct 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News68 articles
  • X / Twitter19 posts
  • Blogs3 articles
  • YouTube2 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The social discussions highlight the surprising notion that keeping positive secrets energizes individuals, as exemplified by mentions of multiple experiments and phrases like 'highly energizing,' which convey curiosity and recognition of the study's significance. The tone, filled with phrases like 'game changer' and references to scientific experiments, reflects active engagement and a forward-looking impact on understanding secrecy.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions support the positive findings, emphasizing how keeping positive secrets can boost energy and motivation.

InterestHigh interest

The topic sparks high interest due to its counterintuitive claim that secrecy isn't always negative, attracting curiosity about the research.

EngagementModerate engagement

Participants reference specific aspects of the study, such as internal motivations and experiments with 2,800 participants, showing active engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

Discussions recognize the potential implications of this research for personal behavior and social practices, suggesting some influence on how secrecy is perceived.

Abstract in brief

  • Existing beliefs suggest that secrecy drains energy, but this research challenges that by focusing on positive secrets rather than negative ones.
  • Five experiments with nearly 2,800 participants showed that keeping positive secrets actually boosts energy levels, unlike negative secrets or positive non-secrets.
  • The energizing effect of positive secrets stems from people keeping them for intrinsic reasons, like personal values and internal motivations, rather than external pressures.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Tay
@BioTay · X

El poder energizante de guardar secretos positivos Se tenga intención de contarlos o no, se siente más energía. Ocurre porque suelen guardarse por motivos propios, no por presión externa (5 experimentos, n 2800) (paper) https://t.co/M2SPhS8TLo (blog) https://t.co/o0nDGcWMnl

Nov 17, 2023 · 26 likes · 9 shares · 20,291 followers View post →
Yuuko Morimoto
@myuuko · X

秘密を抱えていると負担が大きくて疲れるとされているけど,ポジティブな秘密は活力の感覚を上昇させるよという研究。ポジティブな秘密は内発的な理由で保持されるため。/ The bright side of secrecy: The energizing effect of positive secrets https://t.co/MhQYADfmZw

Feb 5, 2024 · 12 likes · 2 shares · 9,263 followers View post →
Neuroscience News
@NeuroscienceNew · X

“The Bright Side of Secrecy: The Energizing Effect of Positive Secrets” by Michael Slepian et al. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology https://t.co/mWxJYLm0BV 2/2

Nov 13, 2023 · 3 likes · 1 share · 505,716 followers View post →
proto.life
@protolifemedia · X

“People sometimes go to great lengths to orchestrate revealing a positive secret to make it all the more exciting,” said Columbia's @michaelslepian. “This kind of surprise can be intensely enjoyable.”

Nov 29, 2023 · 2 likes · 4,814 followers View post →
Pablo Malo
@pitiklinov · X

RT @BioTay: El poder energizante de guardar secretos positivos Se tenga intención de contarlos o no, se siente más energía. Ocurre porque…

Nov 20, 2023 · 9 shares · 71,004 followers View post →
Karla Ziegler
@mariposatuitera · X

RT @BioTay: El poder energizante de guardar secretos positivos Se tenga intención de contarlos o no, se siente más energía. Ocurre porque…

Nov 18, 2023 · 9 shares · 26,818 followers View post →

All mentions

お茶柱/心理学のべレスク
@otea_stalk · X

良いことは秘密にしておくと? 成人1,800人を対象 出来事を秘密にするメリットを調査 ポジティブなニュースを秘密にした場合、開示した場合よりもエネルギッシュな感覚が強かった 外的理由ではなく、自己決定した方がいい 内的動機づけも高い https://t.co/c3VcMi3FuU

Jun 26, 2024 · 23 followers View post →
mammy999
@dddvdgaarunara · X

RT @myuuko: 秘密を抱えていると負担が大きくて疲れるとされているけど,ポジティブな秘密は活力の感覚を上昇させるよという研究。ポジティブな秘密は内発的な理由で保持されるため。/ The bright side of secrecy: The energizing eff…

Feb 5, 2024 · 2 shares · 297 followers View post →
Yuuko Morimoto
@myuuko · X

秘密を抱えていると負担が大きくて疲れるとされているけど,ポジティブな秘密は活力の感覚を上昇させるよという研究。ポジティブな秘密は内発的な理由で保持されるため。/ The bright side of secrecy: The energizing effect of positive secrets https://t.co/MhQYADfmZw

Feb 5, 2024 · 12 likes · 2 shares · 9,263 followers View post →
Karla Ziegler
@mariposatuitera · X

RT @BioTay: El poder energizante de guardar secretos positivos Se tenga intención de contarlos o no, se siente más energía. Ocurre porque…

Dec 7, 2023 · 9 shares · 26,818 followers View post →
お茶柱/心理学のべレスク
@otea_stalk · X

秘密は持っていいのか? 総勢2,800人に「良い秘密の高揚」を調査 短時間であっても良い秘密(サプライズプレゼントなど)を持つと活力が高まる これは、内発的動機づけとして働くため 一方、悪い秘密は外発的であるためよくない https://t.co/c3VcMi4dks

Dec 1, 2023 · 23 followers View post →
proto.life
@protolifemedia · X

“People sometimes go to great lengths to orchestrate revealing a positive secret to make it all the more exciting,” said Columbia's @michaelslepian. “This kind of surprise can be intensely enjoyable.”

Nov 29, 2023 · 2 likes · 4,814 followers View post →
Miguel Angel Ruiz
@Mars_777 · X

RT @BioTay: El poder energizante de guardar secretos positivos Se tenga intención de contarlos o no, se siente más energía. Ocurre porque…

Nov 25, 2023 · 9 shares · 2,614 followers View post →
Aquiles
@Sapiensbici · X

RT @BioTay: El poder energizante de guardar secretos positivos Se tenga intención de contarlos o no, se siente más energía. Ocurre porque…

Nov 20, 2023 · 9 shares · 159 followers View post →
CayoCornelio
@CayoCornelio · X

RT @BioTay: El poder energizante de guardar secretos positivos Se tenga intención de contarlos o no, se siente más energía. Ocurre porque…

Nov 20, 2023 · 9 shares · 2,476 followers View post →
Pablo Malo
@pitiklinov · X

RT @BioTay: El poder energizante de guardar secretos positivos Se tenga intención de contarlos o no, se siente más energía. Ocurre porque…

Nov 20, 2023 · 9 shares · 71,004 followers View post →
Karla Ziegler
@mariposatuitera · X

RT @BioTay: El poder energizante de guardar secretos positivos Se tenga intención de contarlos o no, se siente más energía. Ocurre porque…

Nov 18, 2023 · 9 shares · 26,818 followers View post →
Sergio
@sgallegob_7803 · X

RT @BioTay: El poder energizante de guardar secretos positivos Se tenga intención de contarlos o no, se siente más energía. Ocurre porque…

Nov 17, 2023 · 9 shares · 180 followers View post →
Gabriela Jorquera R.
@gabyjorque · X

RT @BioTay: El poder energizante de guardar secretos positivos Se tenga intención de contarlos o no, se siente más energía. Ocurre porque…

Nov 17, 2023 · 9 shares · 3,439 followers View post →
Tay
@BioTay · X

El poder energizante de guardar secretos positivos Se tenga intención de contarlos o no, se siente más energía. Ocurre porque suelen guardarse por motivos propios, no por presión externa (5 experimentos, n 2800) (paper) https://t.co/M2SPhS8TLo (blog) https://t.co/o0nDGcWMnl

Nov 17, 2023 · 26 likes · 9 shares · 20,291 followers View post →
Psychology Research Bot
@PsycResearchBot · X

Existing wisdom holds that secrecy is burdensome and fatiguing. However, past research has conflated secrecy with the kinds of adverse events that are often kept secret. As a result, it is unclear whether secrecy is inherently depleting, or whether these… https://t.co/AD8TiLQhtu

Nov 14, 2023 · 188 followers View post →
donna brown
@adannayah144 · X

RT @NeuroscienceNew: “The Bright Side of Secrecy: The Energizing Effect of Positive Secrets” by Michael Slepian et al. Journal of Personali…

Nov 14, 2023 · 1 share · 42 followers View post →
Neuroscience News
@NeuroscienceNew · X

“The Bright Side of Secrecy: The Energizing Effect of Positive Secrets” by Michael Slepian et al. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology https://t.co/mWxJYLm0BV 2/2

Nov 13, 2023 · 3 likes · 1 share · 505,716 followers View post →
EightyEight88
@EEight88 · X

@ML_Philosophy @PerfectGuide_ Yep, thanks for mentioning! It's based on a new study that just came out... "The Bright Side of Secrecy: The Energizing Effect of Positive Secrets" You can read the full thing here: https://t.co/SZ1Dyw9XrJ

Nov 13, 2023 View post →
EightyEight88
@EEight88 · X

SOURCE: The Bright Side of Secrecy: The Energizing Effect of Positive Secrets (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2023) Full study can be read here (PDF): https://t.co/SZ1Dyw9XrJ

Nov 13, 2023 View post →