This study investigated individual differences in self-esteem, capacity for intimacy, relationship values and influence strategy use as factors in self-reported intimacy levels for women in homosexual and heterosexual couples. There were no differences by relationship type in levels of self-esteem, capacity for intimacy or in the valuing of relationship qualities. Women in both types of couples described their relationships as highly intimate and reported using Direct/Bilateral influence strategies most frequently. For both groups, higher levels of relationship intimacy were associated with more frequent use of Direct/Bilateral strategies and less frequent use of Indirect/Unilateral and Indirect/Bilateral strategies. Capacity for intimacy and self-esteem were strongly positively related to intimacy for women in same-sex but not cross-sex couples. The best predictor of intimacy for women in heterosexual couples was a negative one: more frequent use of Indirect strategies was associated with lower levels of intimacy.
Bell, R. (1981) `Friendships of Women and Men', Psychology of Women Quarterly5: 402-417.
2.
Bell, R. & Weinberg, M. (1978) Homosexualities: A Study of Human Diversity. New York: Simon & Schuster.
3.
Blumstein, P. & Schwartz, P. (1983) American Couples. New York: William Morrow.
4.
Brown, G. & Harris, T. (1978) Social Origins of Depression: A Study of Psychiatric Disorders in Women. New York: Free Press.
5.
Caldwell, M. & Peplau, L. (1982) `Sex Differences in Same-sex Friendship', Sex Roles8: 721-732.
6.
Duffy, S. & Rusbult, C. (1986) `Satisfaction and Commitment in Homosexual and Heterosexual Relationships', Journal of Homosexuality12: 1-23.
7.
Falbo, T. & Peplau, L. (1980) `Power Strategies in Intimate Relationships', Journal of Personality and Social Psychology38(4): 618-627.
8.
Fischer, J. & Narus, L. (1981) `Sex Roles and Intimacy in Same-sex and Other-sex Relationships', Psychology of Women Quarterly5: 444-455.
9.
Gilbert, L. (1993) Two Careers/One Family. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
10.
Hacker, H. (1981) `Blabbermouths and Clams: Sex Differences in Self-disclosure in Same-sex and Cross-sex Friendship Dyads', Psychology of Women Quarterly5: 385-401.
11.
Howard, J.A. , Blumstein. P. & Schwartz, P. (1986) `Sex, Power, and Influence Tactics in Intimate Relationships', Journal of Personality and Social Psychology44: 322-333.
12.
Instone, D. , Major, B. & Bunker, B. (1983) `Gender, Self-confidence, and Social Influence Strategies: An Organizational Simulation', Journal of Personality and Social Psychology44(2): 322-333.
13.
Janis, I. & Hovland, C. (eds) (1959) Personality and Persuasibility. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
14.
Kahn, A. , Krulewitz, J., O'Leary, V. & Lamm, H. (1980) `Equity and Equality: Male and Female Means to a Just End', Basic and Applied Social Psychology1(2): 173-197.
15.
Kurdek, L. & Schmitt, J. (1986) `Relationship Quality of Partners in Heterosexual Married, Heterosexual Cohabiting, and Gay and Lesbian Relationships', Journal of Personality and Social Psychology51: 711-720.
16.
Laner, M.R. (1988) `Permanent Partner Priorities: Gay and Straight', in J. DeCecco (ed.) Gay Relationships, pp. 133-155. New York: Harrington Park Press.
17.
Lange, S. & Worell, J. (1990, August) `Satisfaction and Commitment in Lesbian and Heterosexual Relationships', paper presented at the 98th annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Boston, MA.
18.
LaTorre, R. & Wendenberg, K. (1983) `Psychological Characteristics of Bisexual, Heterosexual, and Homosexual Women', Journal of Homosexuality9(1): 87-97.
19.
Lynch, J. & Reilly, M. (1985/6) `Role Relationships: Lesbian Perspectives', Journal of Homosexuality12(2): 53-69.
20.
McAdams, D. , Lester, R., Brand, P., McNamara, W. & Lensky, D. (1988) `Sex and the TAT: Are Women More Intimate than Men?', Journal of Personality Assessment52: 397-409.
21.
Pennebaker, J. & Beall, S. (1986) `Confronting a Traumatic Event: Toward an Understanding of Inhibition and Disease', Journal of Abnormal Psychology95: 274-281.
22.
Peplau, L. , Cochran, S., Rook, K. & Padesky, C. (1978) `Loving Women: Attachment and Autonomy in Lesbian Relationships', Journal of Social Issues34: 7-27.
23.
Perlmutter, M. & Hatfield, E. (1980) `Intimacy, Intentional Meta-communication, and Second-order Change', American Journal of Family Therapy8(1): 17-23.
24.
Reis, H. , Senchak, M. & Solomon, B. (1985) `Sex Differences in the Intimacy of Social Interaction: Further Examination of Potential Explanations', Journal of Personality and Social Psychology48(5): 1204-1217.
25.
Rokeach, M. (1973) The Nature of Human Values. New York: Free Press.
26.
Rose, S.M. (1985) `Same- and Cross-sex Friendships and the Psychology of Homosociality', Sex Roles12: 63-74.
27.
Sapadin, L.A. (1988) `Friendship and Gender: Perspectives of Professional Men and Women', Journal of Social and Personal Relationships5: 387-403.
28.
Schwartz, J. , Sharpsteen, D. & Butler, J. (1987) `Regulation of Intimacy in Conversations between Same-sex Close Friends', unpublished manuscript, University of Denver.
29.
Shostrom, E.L. (1974) An Inventory for the Measurement of Self-actualization. CA: Edits (Educational and Industrial Testing Service, San Diego, CA).
30.
Siegelman, M. (1972) `Adjustment of Homosexual and Heterosexual Women', British Journal of Psychiatry120: 477-481.
31.
Siegelman, M. (1979) `Adjustment of Homosexual and Heterosexual Women: A Cross-national Replication', Archives of Sexual Behavior8: 121-125.
32.
Steil, J. (1983) `Marriage: An Unequal Partnership', in B. Wolman & G. Stricker (eds) Handbook of Marriage and the Family, pp. 49-59. New York, Plenum.
33.
Steil, J. (1994) `Equality and Entitlement in Marriage', in M. Lerner & G. Mikula (eds) Entitlement and the Affectional Bond: Justice in Close Relationships. New York: Plenum Press.
34.
Steil, J. & Turetsky, B. (1987) `Is Equal Better? The Relationship between Marital Equality and Psychological Symptomatology', in S. Oskamp (ed.) Applied Social Psychology Annual, pp. 73-95, Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
35.
Steil, J. & Weltman, K. (1991) `Marital Inequality: The Importance of Resources, Personal Attributes, and Social Norms on Career Valuing and Allocation of Domestic Responsibilities', Sex Roles24(3/4): 161-179.
36.
Steil, J. & Weltman, K. (1992) `Influence Strategies at Home and at Work: A Study of 60 Dual-career Couples', Journal of Social and Personal Relationships9: 65-88.
37.
Tesch, S. (1985) `The Psychosocial Intimacy Questionnaire: Validational Studies and an Investigation of Sex Roles', Journal of Social and Personal Relationships5: 471-488.
38.
Whitcomb, J. & Steil, J. (1992) `Conceptualizing Equality', paper presented at the meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association.
39.
Zacks, E. , Green, R. & Marrow, J. (1988) `Comparing Lesbian and Heterosexual Couples on the Circumplex Model: An Initial Investigation', Family Process27: 471-484.
