Should you overshare more?
We may cringe at influencers and friends who let it all hang out, but research shows that keeping quiet might be worse
TL;DR
- Chronic concealment, rather than oversharing, is presented as a public health problem with costs to relationships and personal well-being.
- Experiments show people prefer candid answers, even if they reveal flaws, over refusal to answer, indicating disclosure signals trustworthiness.
- Neuroimaging research suggests revealing personal information activates reward centers in the brain, making it a potentially pleasurable and adaptive social behavior.
- Physiological studies show children who express emotions experience less stress than those who suppress them, and cultural pressures to avoid being 'dramatic' can increase baseline stress.
- Calibrated revealing involves making conscious decisions to voice thoughts, weighing the risks of both disclosure and silence, and adding personal meaning to conversations beyond mere commentary.
- Developing skills for safe revealing requires practice and supportive social environments with norms that permit vulnerability without judgment.