New psychology research reveals why people tend to hide their successes and share their failures

New research suggests that people adjust whether they share their successes and failures based on how the information might affect others. Across nine studies involving more than 8,000 participants, people were more likely to disclose a failure after hearing about someone else’s setback, but often withheld or softened positive news when the other person had experienced a failure.

The study, co-authored by CHIBE-affiliated faculty member George Loewenstein, PhD, found that these communication choices were motivated less by self-presentation and more by a desire to protect another person’s emotions. However, the researchers noted that future studies are needed to determine whether withholding positive news actually makes the other person feel better.