Sociology
The Sociology of Secrets and the Maintenance of Group Solidarity
Quick fact
Sociologist Georg Simmel argued that secrets are a powerful form of social cohesion: the more exclusive the secret, the stronger the bond between those who share it, because it separates insiders from outsiders.
Why this is interesting
Why do we feel closer to someone after we share a secret with them? And why do groups often become tighter when they have something to hide?