Resumen de National Security Secrecy: Comparative Effects on Democracy and the Rule of Law
Secrets can be harmful to human beings. Individuals who attempt to conceal information from others have difficulties living with the secrets as their mind wanders (willingly or unwillingly) to the secret frequently throughout the day.1 In one recent study, researchers found that “97 percent of people have at least one secret at any given moment, and people have, on average 13 secrets.”2 Researchers surveyed more than 5,000 people and analyzed more than 13,000 secrets and found that living with and thinking about secrets can lower one’s overall well-being by increasing anxiety, depression, and even cause a more rapid progression of disease.3 The reverse has also been found to be true. Confiding a secret to someone else leads to a healthier mind and increases overall well-being.4 Confiding to another reduces the amount of time their mind wanders to the secret throughout the day. Researchers have found that by having a conversation about the secret, the secret keeper can receive “emotional support, useful guidance, and helpful advice” when coping with the secret.5 In short, talking about a secret is extremely helpful to human beings.
