Effects of Extraversion and Gender on Self-Disclosure of Emotion with a Same-Sex Friend

The study examined subjects' perceptions about disclosure of emotion by a stimulus person who was depicted as extraverted or introverted, and subjects' self-disclosure of emotion based on their own level of extraversion. In addition, the role of gender in disclosure of emotion was examined. The findings on differences in disclosure of emotion based on gender are considered tentative. Males self-disclosed anger more to same-sex stimulus persons than did females, but this was the only significant difference. An introverted compared to an extraverted stimulus person was found to elicit more disclosure about emotions associated with calmness and depression. Emotions which an introverted stimulus person is perceived to disclose are depression, calmness, anxiety, and apathy. An extraverted stimulus person is perceived as being more likely to disclose happiness. The roles of predictability, understanding, and friendliness in self-disclosure of emotion is discussed.