Getting acquainted: The relationship of self-disclosure and social attraction to positive affect

This study examined the association between social relationship facilitatio n and affect. Young adults who did not know one another engaged in brief, g et-acquainted conversations. Participants rated their positive affect and n egative affect before and after conversations. After conversations, partici pants also rated their self-disclosure, social attraction to partners, and contribution to the conversation relative to their partners. In support of the hypotheses, positive affect increased from before to after conversation s, and greater self-disclosure and social attraction predicted the increase in positive affect. A greater contribution, however, did not predict the i ncrease in positive affect but did predict the significant decrease in nega tive affect. These results support Baumeister and Leary's (1995) proposed n eed for social relationships in which positive affect accompanies relations hip facilitation.