The new way to date: lots of stars are engaging in a hush-hush relationship phase. And for once, experts say they're onto something good.(COSMO NEWS)

There's a new relationship strategy playing out all over Hollywood: It's called "dating quietly." Mandy Moore is tight-lipped about her new romance with DJ AM, Jessica Simpson won't say a peep on the record about what's going on with John Mayer, and lovebirds Kate Hudson and Owen Wilson have been slow to acknowledge that they're really together. It seems that getting burned in the past has taught many formally forthcoming celebrities an important lesson: You can jinx a relationship by defining it too early.

This is one instance in which experts say stars are actually setting a good example for the rest of us. The moment you declare that a guy is your boyfriend, you put a lot of pressure on the relationship. If the union isn't yet strong enough to withstand that intense pressure, it can crack. A good rule of thumb? "You should wait about three months before you commit to someone, because it generally takes that much time to get to know each other on a deeper level and determine if you're truly compatible," says psychologist Sheenah Hankin, PhD.

Though it's hard to apply ...