The Surprising Case for Oversharing

About this episode

This episode discusses how oversharing can strengthen social connections and enhance wellbeing, challenging conventional wisdom about personal information sharing.

We’re kicking off a new season of The Happiness Lab with some happiness hot takes — bold claims that challenge conventional wisdom about what it really takes to feel happier. Today's hot take is all about oversharing. We’re usually told that revealing too much is cringe-worthy. That it demonstrates social ignorance. That when it comes to overly personal information, save it for your therapist, because less is usually more. Dr. Laurie argues that revealing more than feels comfortable can actually strengthen our social connections and boost our wellbeing. She speaks with Harvard Business School professor Leslie John , author of Revealing , about why TLI (too little information) is often more dangerous than TMI, and chats with University of Chicago psychologist Nick Epley , author of A Little More Social , about what “embracing the cringe” can teach us about connection, vulnerability, and trust.  Together, they explore the line between sharing and oversharing, and explain why what feels like “too much information” is often just information. Experts Mentioned:   Leslie John , James. E. Burke Professor of Business Administration at…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Laurie Santos

Guests: Leslie John, Nick Epley

Topics covered

• oversharing
• social connections
• wellbeing
• vulnerability
• trust

Keywords

• oversharing
• social connections
• happiness
• vulnerability
• trust
• Harvard Business School
• University of Chicago

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Harvard Business School, University of Chicago

Books & works: Revealing: The Underrated Power of Oversharing, A Little More Social

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