Abstract
This paper explores the link between perceived egalitarianism in dating relationships and several social-psychological factors that characterize intimate relationships. Data from a sample of nonmarried college students (N=328) suggest that factors such as trust, commitment, other orientation, and dependency are strongly related to perceived egalitarianism, but that comparative resources generally are not significantly related to perceived egalitarianism in dating relationships. It is suggested here that various interpersonal values that operate in intimate relationships may disguise or counteract inequality in intimate heterosexual relationships. These findings suggest the importance of moving beyond a social-exchange perspective in order to understand interpersonal power and of focusing on the role that interpersonal values play in this process.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bakan, D. The duality of human existence. Chicago: Rand McNally and Co., 1966.
Bean, F. D., Curtis, R. L. & Marcum, J. P. Familism and marital satisfaction among Mexican Americans: The effects of family size, wife's labor force participation, and conjugal power. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1977, 39, 759–767.
Blau, P. M. Exchange and power in social life. New York: Wiley, 1964.
Brehm, S. Intimate relationship. New York: Random House, 1985.
Burns, T. A structural theory of social exchange. Acta Sociologica, 1973, 16, 188–208.
Cook, K., & Emerson, R. M. Power, equity and commitment in exchange networks. American Sociological Review, 1978, 43, 721–739.
Emerson, R. M. Power-dependence relations. American Sociological Review, 1962, 27, 31–41.
Festinger, L. A theory of cognitive dissonance. Evanston, Il: Row, Peterson, 1957.
Gillespie, D. Who has the power? The marital struggle. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1971, 33, 445–458.
Holter, H. Sex roles and social structure. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget, 1970.
Homans, G. Social behavior as exchange. American Journal of Sociology, 1958, 63, 597–606.
Kahn, A. The power war: Male response to power loss under equality. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 1984, 8, 234–247.
Kelley, H. H., & Thibaut, J. W. Interpersonal relations: A theory of interdependence. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1978.
Kiesler, C. The psychology of commitment. New York: Academic Press, 1971.
King, C. E. & Christensen, A. The relational events scale: A Guttman scaling of progress in courtship. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1983, 45, 671–678.
Larzelere, R., & Huston, T. The dyadic trust scale: Toward understanding interpersonal trust in close relationships. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1980, 42, 595–604.
McDonald, G. Family power: The assessment of a decade of theory and research, 1970–1979. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1980, 42, 841–854.
McDonald, G. Structural exchange and marital interaction. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1981, 43, 825–839.
Olson, D, & Rabunsky, C. Validity and four measures of family power. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1972, 34, 224–234.
Peplau, L. A. Power in dating relationships. In J. Freeman (Ed.), Women: A feminist perspective. Palo Alto, CA: Mayfield Publishing Company, 1984.
Peplau, L. A., & Gordon, S. L. Women and men in love: Gender differences in close heterosexual relationships. In V. E. O'Leary, R. K. Unger, & B. S. Wallston (Eds.), Women, gender, and social psychology. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, 1985.
Rubin, Z., Hill, C. T., Peplau, L. A. & Dunkel-Schetter, C. Self-disclosure in dating couples: Sex roles and the ethic of openness. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1980, 42, 305–317.
Safilios-Rothschild, C. A marco- and micro-examination of family power and love: An exchange model. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1976, 38, 355–362.
Sprecher, S. Sex differences in bases of power in dating relationships. Sex Roles, 1985, 12, 449–462.
Udry, J. R. Marital alternatives and marital disruption. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1981, 43, 889–897.
Walstedt, J. The altruistic other orientation: An exploration of female powerlessness. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 1977, 2, 162–176.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
I would like to thank the following persons for their helpful comments and suggestions on various drafts on this paper: David Brownfield, Peter J. Burke, Donna J. Eder, Diane Felmlee, Larry J. Griffin, Dean D. Knudsen, Martin Patchen, Carolyn Perrucci, Jean Robinson, and Richard Serpe.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Grauerholz, E. Balancing the power in dating relationships. Sex Roles 17, 563–571 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287736
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287736