Consequences of revealing personal secrets

In this article, the authors review the theories and empirical findings concerning the consequences of revealing personal secrets (i.e., ones that directly involve the secret keeper). Most of the literature has suggested that revealing personal secrets is advantageous to the secret keeper. However choosing to reveal secrets is a complex decision that can have disturbing consequences, such as being rejected by and alienated from the listener Such rejection may lead the revealer to construct a negative self-image. The authors contend that (a) there are many circumstances when the secret keeper is better off not revealing a personal secret and (b) the real or perceived feedback from the confidant plays a critical role in determining whether the secret keeper will benefit from the revealing. They recommend when one should reveal one's secrets to others.