Shankar Vedantam

When we come back, Leslie comes up with a survey asking people if they have ever cheated on their taxes, watched pornography, or called in sick when they wanted to spend a day at the beach.

You're listening to Hidden Brain.

I'm Shankar Vedantam.

I'm Shankar Vedantam.

Can you think of a secret you haven't shared with anyone?

How does keeping the secret make you feel?

What do you think would happen if you shared the secret with others?

If you're willing to share your personal story with the Hidden Brain audience, please find a very quiet room and record a voice memo on your phone.

Two or three minutes is plenty.

Email the file to us at feedback at hiddenbrain.org.

Use the subject line secrets.

Again, that's feedback at hiddenbrain.org.

Psychologist Leslie John is the author of Revealing the Underrated Power of Oversharing.

Leslie, as you dived into the world of embarrassing disclosures, you and an advisor once came up with survey questions.

This turned out to be a very challenging exercise.

How so?

So the survey took the form of questions that start with, have you ever?

I'm wondering if you can read out a list of these questions, Leslie, and I want listeners to ask themselves if they have ever done any of these things.

I'm sure people must clam up if someone asks them this question in a research setting.

In one set of studies, Leslie has examined whether people think less of those who have revealed unsavory things about themselves.