Historically, taboos were deeply religious. In Oceanic cultures, certain people, places, or objects were considered tapu because of their connection to the gods, requiring they be set apart from ordinary use. Violating these boundaries was believed to bring supernatural consequences.
From historical rituals of childbirth to modern-day "trade secrets" in sports medicine, secret taboos serve as a mechanism for social regulation, protection, and the maintenance of power. The Evolution of the Secret Taboo secret taboo
You become a cartographer of evasion. You learn the exact tone of voice to use when the subject drifts too close. You master the art of the decoy secret—admitting to a minor shame (a bad habit, an embarrassing purchase) so that your listener feels the satisfaction of intimacy, never suspecting that the real vault lies two floors deeper. Historically, taboos were deeply religious