Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the effects of high self disclosure were moderated by goal and spontaneity of self-disclosure, and anger-in tendency 2 (goal of self-disclosure) × 2(level of spontaneity) × 2 (anger-in tendency) complete factorial design was used. Experimental data were obtained from 120 male college students, who had either high or low level of anger-in tendency. The results showed that in high self-disclosure condition, subjects with a goal of emotional expression experienced lower level of physiological arousal and negative emotion than those with a goal of cognitive understanding of failure experience. Subjects with a goal of cognitive understanding of the failure experience reported a more positive self-understanding. Especially, emotional catharsis effects were found to be more salient in the spontaneous self-disclosure condition. This tendency was found to be more salient when subjects had a goal of emotional expression. Subjects with a high level of anger-in tendency, under the high self-disclosure condition experienced more positive emotion and self-understanding. Implications of the results were discussed in relation to the previous studies, psychotherapy, and health psychology.