Regulation of emotional expression in dyadic communication: Experimental discussion in perspective of social skills.

Abstract

This study examined the regulation of emotional expression in dyadic communication from the perspective of social skills. When strangers encounter one another, regulation of emotional expression is perceived, particularly in Japanese culture, as an adaptive communication style, part of social skills. Participants (n = 66) viewed a relaxing film for control. Then they viewed one of the films that evoked active and positive affect, deactive and positive affect, and neutral affect. They were paired off into dyads, and their 6-minute conversation was videotaped. As predicted, communication behavior was not influenced by affect in high social skills (n = 36). These results were discussed from the perspective of relationships between participants, and method of affect induction.