Abstract
The purpose of this research was to determine intra-and interpersonal inhibitors of disclosure of emotional episodes, and also to examine whether these reasons might be different by emotion type: Anger, sadness, and happiness. Two hundred fifty nine college students rated 81 items that were thought to represent reasons for inhibiting emotional disclosure. Factor analysis yielded seven factors relating to reasons for inhibition of emotional disclosure: Self-protection, Difficulty in clarification, Avoiding consciousness understanding, Preventing negative social evaluation, Worsening of relationships, Consideration of others, and Self perception of social worth of topic. Suggestions for the predominant reasons why differences in disclosure was prevented by emotion type is discussed.
