Facial expressive behaviors of high self-monitors are less sex-typed

The present study compared the expressive behavior of high and low self-monitoring men and women. Silent excerpts from videotapes of standardized interviews were shown to naive judges. Three dimensions of the target persons' facial expressive behaviors were rated by separate groups of judges. Each excerpt was rated as more happy or unhappy, and as more excited or relaxed, and as more spontaneous or controlled. The ratings of the expressive behavior of high self-monitoring targets were less consistent with social stereotypes and past research findings comparing men's and women's expressive behaviors than were ratings of low self-monitors. These findings are discussed in terms of the origins of sex differences in expressive behavior and in terms of the constructs of self-monitoring and psychological androgyny.The authors wish to express their appreciation to students in experimental social psychology at the College of Charleston who aided in all phases of this research.