If you've ever wondered why we keep secrets and what motivates us to reveal them, look no further. A revealing guide to understanding why we keep the secrets we hold, how to better comprehend and manage them, and when (and how) we should reveal them.

Think about a secret you keep from others. Psychologist Michael Slepian finds that, on average, we hold up to thirteen secrets at any given time. His research, which includes over 50,000 participants worldwide, shows that we often keep secrets about lies we have told, ambitions, addictions, mental health challenges, hidden relationships, and financial difficulties.

Our secrets can weigh us down. However, the burden of secrecy rarely comes from the work required to keep a secret. Instead, the burden comes from carrying them alone. Whether it's protecting our reputation, a relationship, a loved one's feelings, or some personal or professional goal, one thing is clear: withholding some part of our inner world is often lonely and isolating. But it doesn't have to be this way.

Filled with new insights into one of the most universal - yet lesser understood - aspects of human behavior, The Secret Life of Secrets sheds fascinating light on questions such as: At what age do children develop the ability to keep secrets? Do all secrets come with the same mental load? How can we reconcile our secrets with human desires to connect, communicate, and be known? When should we confess, and to whom? And can holding certain types of secrets actually enhance our well-being?

Based on over a decade of original research, this book reveals the surprising ways secrets infiltrate our lives and offers science-based strategies to make living with them easier. The result is a rare window into the workings of our minds, relationships, and sense of self.

Pages: 256, Year of Publication: 2023, Dimensions: 12.4x12.4cm