A “covering-move” is one used by a person to attempt to hide any unflattering truth about something they don’t want disclosed. This move is designed to give advantage to the person hiding the potentially damaging information. Usually the information being hidden runs counter to the person’s projected social image. Thus, in order to avoid being “found out,” that person needs to hide such potentially damaging information.
An example of something a person may want to “cover up” would be the fact that they were prescribed certain types of medications. Or, a person may want to hide the fact that they have a criminal record; such as a felony conviction, or a DUI. Normally a person will use a “covering move” in their attempt to hide information that will contradict whatever socially acceptable “front” they are trying to project.
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STORY:
During a semester at college, I knew a newlywed couple that had just moved in together. This couple had played it straight and had not moved in with each other until after they were married. Because of their convictions to their religious morals, the partners each had to quickly learn about each other’s personal habits in a very short time.
One thing the new bride began to notice was that her new husband seemed to be “addicted” to chocolate candy bars. At random times throughout the day, he would hurry off to the gas station to purchase his coveted candy bars. But after a couple of months, his wife figured out the real reason for her husband’s odd trips to buy his precious candy.
Although her husband did in fact purchase his candy bars on each of his trips, his actual reason for going to the gas station so often was to use their public restroom. Her husband had no trouble going “number one” in their apartment. However, he was terrified of going “number two” in their tiny apartment bathroom. And thus, to avoid becoming embarrassed by the odor he would undoubtedly leave behind after such an intimate activity, he walked to the corner gas station to do his business.
Once this guy’s wife figured out what was actually going on, she calmly hinted at what she knew, and told him that he didn’t have to be embarrassed about such a normal human activity. After she let him know that she had figured out what his motive was for going to buy “candy bars,” he accepted the reality of the married living arrangements. After that particular conversation, he did what he needed to do, in their apartment.
