From:
The Good Men Project featured Columbia Business School Professor Michael Slepian’s research in an article exploring the emotional and psychological costs of holding personal secrets. Drawing on Slepian’s work—including his book The Experience of Secrecy—the piece highlights how concealed thoughts and experiences can shape motivation, stress, and interpersonal connection. His findings show that secrecy is less about the act of hiding information and more about the mental burden of thinking about what is withheld. The article uses Slepian’s insights to illustrate how opening up, even selectively, can improve well-being and strengthen relationships.
