Research in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology has revealed that withholding positive secrets, such as surprises or personal successes, can actually boost a person’s energy. This conclusion, drawn from experiments involving over 3,000 participants, highlights the role of internal motivation and the anticipation of eventually sharing the news.
Individuals who temporarily keep good news to themselves often report feeling more invigorated, according to the study.
Contrary to the common urge to immediately share good news, research by the American Psychological Association indicates that temporarily keeping such news to oneself can enhance feelings of vitality and energy.
“Much research on secrecy has linked it to negative well-being impacts, focusing only on secrets with negative life implications. This raises a question: Is secrecy intrinsically harmful to our well-being, or do its adverse effects mainly stem from concealing negative secrets?” posed Michael Slepian, PhD, an associate professor of business at Columbia University. “Although negative secrets are more usual, positive secrets often mark the start of life’s happiest moments, like covert marriage proposals, pregnancies, surprise gifts, or thrilling news.”
This research was published on November 13 in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
Understanding the Positive Aspects of Secrecy
A preliminary survey of 500 individuals found that 76% would choose to share good news immediately upon hearing it. However, there are significant positive life events that individuals may opt to keep secret, such as an engagement proposal, a planned pregnancy, or a lavish purchase.
Five experiments involving over 2,500 participants were conducted to explore the reasons behind keeping positive secrets and how this compares to withholding information perceived as unpleasant or embarrassing.
In one study, participants reviewed a list of almost 40 types of good news, such as saving money, treating oneself to a gift, or reducing debt. They identified the good news they currently had and which they kept secret. Some participants reflected on their secret good news, while others pondered non-secret good news, subsequently rating their level of energy and intent to share the news.
On average, participants held 14 to 15 pieces of good news, with 5 to 6 kept secret. Those reflecting on their positive secrets felt more energized than those considering non-secret good news. Those planning to share their news, whether secret or not, also reported higher energy levels.
“Choosing to keep positive secrets can lead to pleasant feelings, and positive emotion is closely linked to feeling energized,” noted Slepian. However, further studies revealed that positive secrets energize for another reason too.
The Dynamics of Surprise and Internal Motives
One experiment had participants pick a likely future good news item from a list and imagine keeping it secret to later surprise their partner, contrasting this with situations where they couldn’t immediately share the news. Imagining holding back information for a surprise made participants feel more energized than when they couldn’t share the news immediately.
Another study asked participants to recall a current positive secret (one that made them feel good), a negative secret (one that made them feel bad), or a neutral secret. It was found that positive secrets are often kept for personal reasons, rather than due to external pressures.
Unlike negative or embarrassing secrets, which are frequently influenced by external factors, keeping a positive secret by choice was found to be invigorating, according to Slepian.
“People often keep positive secrets for their own enjoyment or to heighten the excitement of a surprise. Such secrets are driven more by personal desires and internal motives than external pressures,” he explained. “When our actions stem from our own wishes, we feel more prepared for upcoming challenges.”
The study also showed that holding onto good news, whether or not one plans to share it later, can make people feel more alive and energized.
“People sometimes intricately plan to reveal a positive secret, enhancing its excitement. This sort of surprise can be intensely pleasurable, yet surprise is the most transient of emotions,” added Slepian. “Prolonging the anticipation, even if only in our thoughts, gives us more time to relish this thrilling moment.”
Reference: “The Bright Side of Secrecy: The Energizing Effect of Positive Secrets” by Michael Slepian, PhD, and Adam Galinksy, PhD, Columbia University, Katharine Greenaway, PhD, The University of Melbourne, and Nicholas Camp, PhD, University of Michigan, 13 November 2023, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
DOI: 10.1037/pspa0000352
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Positive secrecy benefits
Can keeping positive secrets boost energy levels?
Yes, a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that keeping positive secrets, such as surprise plans or personal achievements, can make people feel more energized. This is attributed to the internal motivation and anticipation of sharing the news later.
What are the impacts of withholding good news, according to the study?
Withholding good news can lead to increased feelings of vitality and energy. This contrasts with the common belief that all forms of secrecy are harmful to well-being.
What does the research say about the reasons behind keeping positive secrets?
The research indicates that people often keep positive secrets for personal reasons and internal motivations, rather than due to external pressures. This can include the enjoyment of planning a surprise or the thrill of holding onto exciting news.
How does the feeling of keeping a positive secret compare to that of a negative secret?
Keeping a positive secret is found to be energizing and life-affirming, in contrast to the stress and discomfort often associated with keeping negative or embarrassing secrets.
What did the pre-study survey reveal about people’s tendencies to share good news?
A pre-study survey of 500 people revealed that 76% would immediately share good news upon learning it, highlighting the natural inclination to share positive experiences. However, the study suggests that there can be benefits to temporarily withholding such news.
More about Positive secrecy benefits
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
- Positive Secrecy Study
- Michael Slepian Research
- American Psychological Association
- Energizing Effect of Secrets
4 comments
wow, never thought keeping a secret could be good for you! always thought it was stressful, but this is a cool new perspective.
fascinating stuff, but i wonder how it applies in real life. like, is keeping a surprise party secret the same as a big personal achievement?
Great read, really makes you think about the small joys of life. but, the link to the actual study would have been helpful.
This is interesting, but i’m still not sure if it’s better to keep secrets or share everything, you know? It’s a bit confusing.