sciencetech-blog

comments

Some secrets are better left untold.

At least that's the advice often given when faced with revealing a murky past or keeping quiet.

But now, a new study claims that the act of keeping a secret exerts not only an emotional toll, but also physical damage.

A new study claims the act of keeping a secret exerts not only an emotional toll, but also physical damage

According to new research from Columbia Business School, keeping a secret is similar to carrying physical weight which can sap you of your energy.

Researchers say a secret can preoccupy your mind and the more you think about it, the more you use personal, intellectual and motivational resources.

'Being preoccupied by a secret at work can be demotivating,' said Michael Slepian, an adjunct assistant professor of negotiations at Columbia Business School and co-author of the study.

'The burden of secrecy can make things around you appear more challenging and if you're less motivated to tackle these challenges, your performance can suffer.'

As part of the study, scientists performed a series of experiments to assess the effect secrets had on a subject's ability to judge the steepness of a hill.

Researchers say a secret can preoccupy your mind and the more you think about it, the more you use personal, intellectual and motivational resources, which saps you of energy

Those that dubbed their secrets as preoccupying judged the hill to be steeper than it actually was.

'This is the same kind of outcome we see when people are carrying physical burdens, seeing the world as more challenging, forbidding and extreme,' added Slepian.

The defined a preoccupying secret as one that causes daily concern and may be related to more serious life-altering issues like money, sexual orientation or a health concern, the researchers said.

According to the study, one of the best ways to gain back your productivity is to simply get the burden off of your chest.

But, Slepian said, that doesn't mean you should star immediately airing your dirty laundry.

He said it's important to remember that revealing the secret to the wrong person could do more harm than good.

For those without a confidant, anonymous hotlines provide a way to reveal the secret, while keeping your identity a secret.

Another option if you cannot state the secret out loud is to simply write it down.

For example, posting the secret on an online message board or a website that shares submissions confidentially, or hand writing the secret in a personal journal can help, the researchers added.

Either way, Slepian argues there may be both physical and psychological benefits to getting a secret off your chest.