An examination in mutual comparison of perception of equity in intimate pairs

Abstract

This study dealt with the perception of equity in intimate relationships of the same sex and age. Eighty-five intimate female pairs who had ongoing relationships were surveyed. The equity balance between each individual in the intimate pair was attained through two methods. First, the widely used method based on equity theories was implemented, involving a comparison of equity perception of the two participants. The other method employed individual judgment of input versus outcome with regard to the relationship, and an objective index of the gains obtained for each individual was investigated. Pairs were grouped according to the balance in their perception of equity, into the following six groups: underbenefited-underbenefited (UB-UB); underbenefited-equity (UB-EQT); underbenefited-overbenefited (UB-OB); equity-equity (EQT-EQT); equity-overbenefited (EQT-OB); overbenefited-overbenefited (OB-OB). The UB-UB, UB-EQT and UB-OB groups were omitted from analyses since there were insufficient numbers of such groups. For the other three groups, analyses were conducted on the stability of the relationships and their prospect for continuation. As a result, the OB-OB group were found to be most stable and had the largest prospect for being maintained. The above pair groupings were done similarly based on the gains obtained for each individual from the relationship. The perception of equity and balance of gains turned out to show differences, suggesting a rather weak relationship between objective state of exchange between two persons and their own perception of equity in their relationship.