Secret categories

UPDATED November 17, 2023

From innocent lies to serious transgressions, we all carry a multitude of secrets, some of which can significantly impact our well-being. Michael Slepian identified 38 distinct categories of secrets through a study involving 3000 participants (The Secret Life of Secrets, 2022).

USE OF CATEGORIES

These categories serve as a tool, offering our community a glimpse into the secrets which are metaphorically embedded in our products. They provide an understanding of the hidden narratives behind the items they purchase without revealing the complete story upfront. Much like meeting someone face-to-face, where you never fully know their entire story, we strive to provide a similar experience for our customers.On this page, you’ll find the comprehensive list of categories, accompanied by an explanation of the difference between privacy and secrecy.

The accompanying diagram, drawn from Michael Slepian’s research, sheds light on the diverse spectrum of secrets we carry.

For precise details, please consult “The Secret Life of Secrets” by Michael Slepian (2022).

PRIVACY VS SECRECY

Distinguishing between secrecy and privacy is like drawing a thin line. Imagine secrecy as when you purposely keep certain info to yourself, and privacy as how much you generally share about your personal life. For instance, you might avoid chatting about your romantic life at work to maintain some privacy and keep things appropriate. It’s not exactly a secret, just private.

Now, think about money. You may not spill the details of your paycheck, not because it’s a big secret, but more for privacy reasons. However, there might be specific financial decisions you intentionally keep under wraps, like that one not-so-smart investment. So, privacy and secrecy can coexist, and there’s a gray area in between. But guess who’s the best judge of what’s private or secret? Yep, it’s you.