We all have our dark secrets that we hide from even our closest friends and family, for fear of being judged and thinking negative thoughts about us.
A new study by researchers from academic institutions in Texas, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, turns this assumption on its face.
We enlisted the help of Claude to uncover the optimistic secret behind all the pessimistic secrets.
Throughout 12 experiments, the participants expected much harsher reactions to embarrassing revelations than they actually received when they revealed dark secrets, such as cheating on a spouse - both from strangers and from friends and relatives.
The gap between expected and actual responses reflects a broader human tendency toward pessimism.
Reassuring people and assuring them that revealing secrets will not negatively affect their relationships helps them to be more transparent with other people.
Ultimately, revealing uncomfortable truths requires and demonstrates trust, vulnerability, and integrity.
The researchers conclude that transparency increases the connection between people and does not undermine it, which makes attempts at keeping a secret an unnecessary and exhausting effort.
Even if at first the disclosure is embarrassing, in the long run it builds a lot of trust and strengthens relationships.
The researchers also suggest that workplaces apply the conclusions from their research, and ensure that employees are less judgmental about conduct that is not exactly perfect as long as it is not a case of criminal offenses.
Understanding and support usually improves organizational culture more than controlling fear, according to the researchers.
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