The Influence of Social Skills on Private and Interpersonal Emotional Disclosure of Negative Events

Abstract

This study examined the influence of social skills on emotional disclosure in private and interpersonal settings. Eighty-five women with either high or low social skills disclosed an emotionally painful event in private (i.e., to a tape recorder) or to another participant with either high or low social skills (interpersonal condition). Increases in negative affect were greatest when disclosure was in the private (vs. interpersonal) condition and also when the discloser had high social skill (vs. low social skill). Interestingly, increases in positive affect were greatest in the interpersonal condition where both discloser and facilitator had high social skills. However, these facilitators themselves experienced decreases in their positive affect. The authors propose that an interactive transfer of positive affect between individuals of high social skills can provide an interpersonal interaction conducive to self-disclosure.