Secrets have long been a topic of intrigue and fascination. Shakespeare once wrote about the weight of secrets, and even today, we often describe secrets as burdens that can weigh us down. But is this just a metaphor, or does it have a basis in reality?
In 2012, researchers set out to explore whether the idea that “secrets can weigh us down” is more than just a saying. They conducted a series of studies to investigate this metaphor. In the first study, participants were asked to recall and write about either a small or large personal secret. They were then asked to evaluate the steepness of a hill, among other tasks. Interestingly, those who wrote about larger secrets perceived the hill as steeper than those who wrote about smaller secrets. This finding aligns with the idea that carrying a heavy physical weight can make physical tasks seem more challenging.
In another part of the study, participants who were asked to keep a big secret overestimated the difficulty of a task. For example, when throwing a ball at a target, they consistently overshot, suggesting they perceived the target as further away. This indicates that the mental burden of a secret can affect our perception of physical tasks.
However, when other scientists attempted to replicate these findings, they did not observe the same results. They found no link between the size of a secret and the perceived steepness of a hill. This led to further investigation by the original researchers, who conducted another study focusing on how burdensome or preoccupying a secret was, rather than just its size. They discovered that individuals who felt more burdened by their secrets did perceive physical tasks as more difficult, supporting the idea that secrets can indeed weigh us down.
Ultimately, it seems that secrets can weigh us down, but primarily when we perceive them as burdensome. The mental challenge of keeping a difficult secret can feel like carrying a physical weight. However, the actual “weight” of a secret is not something that can be measured in physical terms. Instead, it is the mental burden that can impact our perception and behavior.
Do you have a secret that feels heavier than others might expect? It’s worth considering how much mental space your secrets occupy and whether they are affecting your daily life.
Thanks to Prudential for supporting this exploration of secrets. Just as managing secrets can impact our mental well-being, managing finances can significantly affect our future. By saving just one percent more of your annual income today, you can build a better retirement tomorrow. For instance, a 25-year-old earning $40,000 annually who saves an additional one percent could increase their retirement savings by nearly $97,943.73 by the time they retire at 70, assuming a six percent compounding interest rate. For more information, visit RaceForRetirement.com.
Reflect on a personal secret that you feel comfortable sharing anonymously. Write a brief description of it and how it affects your perception of daily tasks. Share your reflections in a group discussion to explore the psychological impact of secrets.
Conduct a simple experiment where you evaluate the steepness of a hill or the distance to a target before and after recalling a significant secret. Record your perceptions and discuss any changes observed with your peers.
Work in groups to design and conduct a small-scale replication of the original study on secrets and perception. Analyze your findings and compare them with the results discussed in the article.
Create a chart to categorize secrets based on their perceived burden. Discuss how different types of secrets might affect mental well-being and daily functioning. Present your analysis to the class.
Use art, writing, or performance to express the concept of secrets weighing us down. Share your creative work with the class and explain the psychological insights it represents.
This episode is supported by Prudential.
*Voice of male narrator* “My lord. I love you: And durst commend a secret to your ear. Much weightier than this work.”
Aside from Shakespeare’s “Old English” flair, those lines sound a lot like conventional wisdom. Secrets can be heavy. Even today, we talk about how secrets can weigh us down. But is that just a saying? Or does it come from real, physical experience?
In 2012, researchers developed a series of studies to test the metaphor: “Secrets can weigh us down.” The first part asked people to recall and write either a small or large personal secret. Then they were asked to judge the sturdiness of a table, the durability of a water bottle, the temperature of a park, and the steepness of a hill shown face-on. However, everything except the hill was a distraction. Participants who wrote about big secrets judged the hill as significantly steeper than those who wrote about small secrets. This matters because we know when people are carrying a heavy physical weight, they judge physical activities as being more difficult. It seems like this is also the case when you’re carrying a heavy mental weight.
In the second part, participants who were asked to hide a big secret overestimated the difficulty of a task. Instead of throwing a ball at a target, they kept throwing it over, suggesting that they perceived the target as further away. Or that they just had really poor aim! When people were asked to consider a really big secret, “How much do you think about your secret? How much does it bother you?” Those who scored as more burdened rated tasks that required physical effort, like walking a dog, as more difficult.
So, that metaphor about secrets weighing us down may actually be based in reality. Or…is it? Other scientists tried to replicate the first part. Remember that one where people judged the steepness of a hill? After two attempts, they didn’t get the same results. They found no correlation between how big a lie was and how steep people judged the hill to be.
Now what?! Well, some of those original researchers were determined to find answers. So last year, they did another study. This time, instead of just looking at the size of a secret, they also looked at how burdensome or preoccupying the secret was. When people were divided by the burden of their secret, those who had a higher burden did perceive physical tasks as being more difficult. They rated the hill as steeper.
So after all of this, it seems like – yes, secrets can weigh us down. But only if we let them. If we keep secrets that we perceive as burdensome or difficult to keep, then it’s really mentally challenging. We might as well go about our lives behaving as if we’re carrying around a physical weight.
But just how much does a secret weigh? Well, the weight of a brain cell in your memory center or the weight of electrons carrying a confidential email probably won’t make a difference to your life. After all, the internet only weighs as much as a strawberry. The real question is: “What does a mental burden weigh?” And that’s pretty burdensome to answer.
Let me know your thoughts! Do you carry around a secret that weighs heavier on you than others may expect? I’ll see you down in the comments.
Thanks to Prudential for sponsoring this episode. Saving a little more today, even just one percent more of your annual income, can go a long way towards building a better retirement tomorrow.
Let’s do an equation. Say a 25-year-old that earns $40,000 a year is planning on retiring at 70. If they save an additional one percent of their salary by deducting $33 from their monthly paycheck and earn six percent compounding interest, that could increase their retirement savings by about $97,943.73. That calculation certainly pays off. Go to RaceForRetirement.com for more information.
Secrets – Information that is intentionally kept hidden, often due to its sensitive nature or potential impact on relationships and personal identity. – In literature, the revelation of a character’s secrets can serve as a pivotal moment that drives the plot forward and deepens the reader’s understanding of their motivations.
Psychology – The scientific study of the mind and behavior, exploring how individuals think, feel, and act. – Understanding the principles of psychology can enhance one’s ability to analyze characters’ motivations and actions in English literature.
Burden – A psychological or emotional weight that an individual carries, often due to stress, responsibility, or guilt. – In many novels, protagonists struggle with the burden of past mistakes, which influences their decisions and character development.
Perception – The process by which individuals interpret and organize sensory information to understand their environment. – The theme of perception versus reality is frequently explored in literature, challenging characters to question their understanding of the world.
Metaphor – A figure of speech that involves an implicit comparison between two unlike things, often used to convey complex ideas and emotions. – In psychological literature, the mind is often described as a “dark forest,” a metaphor that captures the complexity and mystery of human thought.
Mental – Relating to the mind, including cognitive processes, emotions, and psychological states. – The mental struggles of characters in literature often reflect broader societal issues and personal conflicts.
Challenge – A task or situation that tests someone’s abilities, often leading to personal growth or change. – In psychological terms, overcoming a significant challenge can lead to increased resilience and self-efficacy.
Behavior – The actions or reactions of an individual in response to external or internal stimuli. – Analyzing a character’s behavior in a novel can provide insights into their psychological state and underlying motivations.
Literature – Written works, especially those considered to have artistic or intellectual value, that explore human experiences and emotions. – Literature often serves as a mirror to society, reflecting psychological themes and cultural values.
Weight – A metaphorical term for the significance or impact of an emotional or psychological issue. – The weight of unspoken truths can create tension and conflict in a narrative, driving character development and plot progression.
