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Shame, guilt, and secrets on the mind.
Michael L Slepian1, James N Kirby2, Elise K Kalokerinos3
1Management Division, Columbia Business School, Columbia University.
Emotion (Washington, D.C.)
|February 12, 2019
Summary
Shame increases secret-related mind wandering, while guilt decreases it. Understanding these emotional links is key to how secrecy impacts individuals, moving beyond active concealment. This research explores the psychological experience of keeping secrets.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Harmful effects of secrecy may stem from intrusive thoughts (mind wandering) rather than active concealment.
- Predictors of mind wandering to secrets and the act of concealment remain unclear.
- Emotional appraisals of shame and guilt are hypothesized to influence the experience of secrecy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of shame and guilt in predicting mind wandering to secrets.
- To examine how emotional appraisals shape the subjective experience of maintaining secrecy.
Main Methods:
- Four studies were conducted involving 1,000 participants.
- Participants collectively kept over 6,000 secrets.
- Emotional appraisals (shame, guilt) and mind wandering frequency were assessed.
Main Results:
- Shame was significantly associated with increased mind wandering to secrets.
- Guilt was significantly associated with reduced mind wandering to secrets.
- Emotional appraisals differentially predict the cognitive experience of secrecy.
Conclusions:
- This study is the first to empirically link specific emotions (shame, guilt) to the cognitive experience of secrecy.
- Findings suggest that shame exacerbates intrusive thoughts about secrets, while guilt mitigates them.
- Understanding these emotion-cognition links is crucial for comprehending the psychological impact of secrecy.
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