Toward a Theory of Concealment

Concealment, or withholding information from others, is of fundamental sociological interest. Yet, a general theoretical framework of concealment is missing from the sociological cannon. This paper specifies a model that builds upon, and moves beyond, existing accounts of concealment by emphasizing the desire for autonomy. I propose that desire for autonomy, and the subjective assessment of concealment as the best route to achieve autonomy, are necessary for individuals to attempt concealment. After specifying a dyadic model based on the concealer (ego) and the target of concealment (alter), I incorporate ego-alter power differentials as well as norms about privacy and concealment into a multilevel model of how concealment is initiated and maintained. The theoretical and empirical implications of this model of concealment are discussed.