The following hypotheses regarding interpersonal resource exchange among (a) dating couples (n = 206 couples) and (b) engaged/married couples (n = 103 couples) were tested: (1) levels of affectionate behavior are reciprocated (i.e. paths are bidirectional) among couples; (2) levels of respectful behavior are reciprocated among couples; (3) individuals' reported affectionate and respectful behaviors are correlated positively; (4) individuals' affection-giving traits are better as positive predictors of individuals' affectionate behavior among engaged/married couples than among dating couples; (5) individuals' respect-giving traits are better as positive predictors of individuals' respectful behavior among engaged/married couples than among dating couples; (6) individuals' gender-role compliance is better as a negative predictor of individuals' affectionate behavior among dating couples than among engaged/married couples; and (7) individuals' gender-role compliance is better as a negative predictor of individuals' respectful behavior among dating couples than among engaged/married couples. Individuals' interpersonal traits and gender-role compliance were self-reported, whereas individuals' interpersonal behaviors were reported by their partners. Results supported Hypotheses 1-3 (derived from resource exchange theory proposed by Foa & Foa, 1974) but not Hypotheses 4-7 (derived from the model of levels of relational involvement proposed by Levinger & Snoek, 1972). Unexpectedly, affection-giving traits generally were positive predictors of affectionate and respectful behavior, whereas respect-giving traits generally did not predict affectionate or respectful behavior. Implications for the study of interpersonal traits, gender roles and behavioral reciprocity in heterosexual relationships are discussed.
Carmines, E.G. & Zeller, R.A. (1979) Reliability and Validity Assessment. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
2.
Carson, R.C. (1979) `Personality and Exchange in Developing Relationships', in R.L. Burgess & T.L. Huston (eds) Social Exchange in Developing Relationships, pp. 247-269. New York: Academic Press.
3.
Foa, U.G. & Foa, E.B. (1974) Societal Structures of the Mind. Springfield, IL: Thomas.
4.
Foa, U.G. , Törnblom, K.Y., Foa, E.B. & Converse, J. Jr (1993) `Introduction: Resource Theory on Social Psychology', in U.G. Foa, J. Converse, Jr, K.Y. Törnblom & E.B. Foa (eds) Resource Theory: Explorations and Applications, pp. 1-10. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
5.
French, M. (1985) Beyond Power: On Women, Men, and Morals. New York: Ballantine.
6.
Gaines, S.O. Jr (1991) `Impact of Gender-Role Demands on Exchange of Love and Status in Dating Relationships', paper presented at the International Network Conference on Personal Relationships, 16-20 May 1991.
7.
Gaines, S.O. Jr (1994) `Exchange of Respect-Denying Behavior among Male-Female Friendships', Journal of Social and Personal Relationships11: 5-24.
8.
Gaines, S.O. Jr (1995) `Classifying Dating Couples: Gender as Represented in Traits, Roles, and Resulting Behavior', Basic and Applied Social Psychology16: 75-94.
9.
Huston, T.L. , McHale, S.M. & Crouter, A.C. (1986) `When the Honeymoon's Over: Changes in the Marriage Relationship over the First Year', in R. Gilmor & S.W. Duck (eds) The Emerging Field of Personal Relationships, pp. 109-132. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
10.
Ickes, W. (1985) `Sex-Role Influence on Compatibility in Relationships', in W. Ickes (ed.), Compatible and Incompatible Relationships, pp. 187-208. New York: Springer-Verlag.
11.
Ickes, W. (1993) `Traditional Gender Roles: Do they Make, and then Break, our Relationships?', Journal of Social Issues49: 71-85.
12.
Johnson, M.P. (1991a) `Commitment to Personal Relationships', in W.H. Jones & D. Perlman (eds) Advances in Personal Relationships, Vol. 3, pp. 117-143. London: Kingsley.
13.
Johnson, M.P. (1991b) `Reply to Levinger and Rusbult', in W.H. Jones & D. Perlman (eds) Advances in Personal Relationships, Vol. 3, pp. 171-176. London: Kingsley.
14.
Jöreskog, K.G. & Sörbom, D. (1989) LISREL 7: A Guide to the Program and Applications, 2nd edn.Chicago, IL: SPSS.
15.
Lamke, L.K. , Sollie, D.L., Durbin, R.G. & Fitzpatrick, J.A. (1994) `Masculinity, Femininity, and Relationship Satisfaction: The Mediating Role of Interpersonal Competence', Journal of Social and Personal Relationships11: 535-554.
16.
Levinger, G. (1974) `A Three-Level Approach to Attraction: Toward an Understanding of Pair Relationships', in T.L. Huston (ed.) Foundations of Interpersonal Attraction, pp. 99-120. New York: Academic Press.
17.
Levinger, G. (1983) `Development and Change', in H.H. Kelley, E. Berscheid, A. Christensen, J.H. Harvey, T.L. Huston, G. Levinger, E. McClintock, L.A. Peplau and D.R. Peterson (eds) Close Relationships, pp. 315-359. San Francisco, CA: Freeman.
18.
Levinger, G. (1991) `Commitment vs. Cohesiveness: Two Complementary Perspectives', in W.H. Jones & D. Perlman (eds) Advances in Personal Relationships, Vol. 3, pp. 145-150. London: Kingsley.
19.
Levinger, G. & Huston, T.L. (1990) `The Social Psychology of Marriage', in F.D. Fincham & T.N. Bradbury (eds) The Psychology of Marriage: Basic Issues and Applications, pp. 19-58. New York: Guilford.
20.
Levinger, G. & Snoek, J.D. (1972) Attraction in Relationship: A New Look at Interpersonal Attraction. Morristown, NJ: General Learning Press.
21.
Loehlin, J.C. (1992) Latent Variable Models: An Introduction to Factor, Path, and Structural Analysis, 2nd edn.Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
22.
Orford, J. (1986) `The Rules of Interpersonal Complementarity: Does Hostility Beget Hostility and Dominance, Submission?', Psychological Review93: 365-377.
23.
Rusbult, C.E. (1991) `Commentary on Johnson's "Commitment to Personal Relationships": What's Interesting, and What's New?', in W.H. Jones & D. Perlman (eds) Advances in Personal Relationships, Vol. 3, pp. 151-169. London: Kingsley.
24.
Rusbult, C.E. , Verette, J., Whitney, G.A., Slovik, L.F. & Lipkus, I. (1991) `Accommodation Processes in Close Relationships: Theory and Preliminary Empirical Evidence', Journal of Personality and Social Psychology60: 53-78.
25.
Snyder, M. & Ickes, W. (1985) `Personality and Social Behavior', in G. Lindzey & E. Aronson (eds) The Handbook of Social Psychology, Vol. 2, 3rd edn, pp. 883-947. New York: Random House.
26.
Spence, J.T. , Deaux, K. & Helmreich, R.L. (1985) `Sex Roles in Contemporary American Society', in G. Lindzey & E. Aronson (eds) The Handbook of Social Psychology, Vol. 2, 3rd edn, pp. 149-178. New York: Random House.
27.
Spence, J.T. , Helmreich, R.L. & Sawin, L.L. (1980) `The Male-Female Relations Questionnaire: A Self-Report Inventory of Sex-Role Behaviors and Preferences and its Relationships to Masculine and Feminine Personality Traits, Sex Role Attitudes, and Other Measures', ISAS Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology10: 87.
28.
Sullivan, H.S. (1953) The Interpersonal Theory of Psychiatry. New York: Norton.
29.
Wiggins, J.S. (1979) `A Psychological Taxonomy of Trait-Descriptive Terms: The Interpersonal Domain', Journal of Personality and Social Psychology37: 395-412.
30.
Wiggins, J.S. (1980) `Circumplex Models of Interpersonal Behavior', in L. Wheeler (ed.) Review of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 1, pp. 265-294. Beverley Hills, CA: Sage.
