Questions to Guide your reading about Chapter 3 The Dark Side (and Light Side) of Avoidance and Secrets

1. What is the difference between secrecy, privacy, topic avoidance, and deception?

2. What considerations are there (benefits and costs) when considering whether to self-disclose or avoid a topic?

3. What affects a person's likelihood to reveal a secret?

4. Why might taboo topics that are implicitly negotiated be more satisfying than those that are explicitly negotiated?

5. How do you determine if a reason for avoiding is valid or "just an excuse"?

6. Explain the "chilling effect" (p. 72).