EQUITY AND PREMARITAL SEX

Abstract

Supposedly, Equity is a general theory which applies to all human relations. Yet, the theory has never been tested in deeply intimate settings. This study was designed to determine whether formal Equity theory can give us insight into dating couples' intimate romantic and sexual relationships. We proposed that if people feel they are getting less from a relationship than they deserve, they feel entitled to call the shots sexually. In light of the double standard, we expected undcrbenelited men to demand that their partners go fairly far, sexually. In contrast, we expected underbenefited women to insist that their partners wait until they are ready for sex—and that may be a long wait. (In brief, we expected the subject's sex and the equity of a relationship Is subject underbenefited? equitably treated? overbenefited? | to interact in determining how far a couple goes sexually.) Our hypotheses were not confirmed. Couples were most intimate in the equitable relationships. Presumably, Equity is a general theory. Presumably,, Equity principles steer all human interactions (see Berkowitz & Walster, 1976). Thus far, Equity theory has been applied to predict men's and women's reactions in such diverse interactions as employer/empl oyee relations, exploiter/victim relations, philanthropist/recipient relations, and the like. (See Walster, Walster, & Berscheid, 1978, for a comprehensive review of this research.) Equity theory has proved to be surprisingly successful in predicting men's and women's reactions in such casual interactions. Is Equity theory equally successful in predicting people's reactions to deeply intimate interactions? Surprisingly, we do not know. Tt is only within the last year that researchers have begun to determine whether equity principles guide the interactions of sweethearts, married couples, and extramarital lovers (see Walster, Utne, & Traupmann, in press; Walster, Walster, & Berscheid, 1978). The present study was dc