Socioemotional Exchanges Between Men and Women in Heterosexual Relationships.

Stanley O Gaines,Constantine Sedikides

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.639302

Abstract

We examined affection-giving, affection-denying, respect-giving, and respect-denying behaviors among men and women in heterosexual relationships. In a pilot study (N = 106 couples), although we had expected the latent variables of affectionate and respectful behaviors to emerge from exploratory factor analyses, we obtained the latent variables of socioemotional rewards and costs instead. In the main study (initial N = 182 couples), we replicated the factor patterns of socioemotional rewards and costs in confirmatory factor analyses. Moreover, we entered (final N = 177 couples) men’s and women’s self-reported narcissism alongside men’s and women’s socioemotional rewards and costs, as reported by partners, into a dyadic model that we tested via covariance structure analyses. Results revealed that, although men and women reciprocated rewards as well as costs (and correlations between individuals’ rewards and costs were negative), narcissism was not reflected in the patterns of reciprocity (men’s and women’s narcissism were positively related.) We discuss implications for studies of relationship processes as two-person group dynamics.

Highlights

In an early review of the literature on close relationships, Berscheid (1985) noted that many theories within the field owe an intellectual debt to Skinner’s (1938) operant reinforcement theory regarding the presumed importance of rewards and costs to individuals’ maintenance vs. termination of relationships
We re-ran the exploratory factor analysis, requesting a two-factor solution; unexpectedly, the resulting matrix of loadings for the Promax-rotated solution revealed that Factor 1 consisted of rewards, whereas Factor 2 consisted of costs
Even though our discovery regarding the content of the revised RBT led us to hypothesize that narcissism would be reflected in patterns of reciprocity involving men’s and women’s socioemotional rewards and costs, the main study results were inconsistent with the hypothesis

Summary

Introduction

In an early review of the literature on close relationships, Berscheid (1985) noted that many theories within the field owe an intellectual debt to Skinner’s (1938) operant reinforcement theory regarding the presumed importance of rewards and costs to individuals’ maintenance vs. termination of relationships. Resource exchange theorists have published a survey to measure particular rewards vs costs (e.g., the Role Behavior Test or RBT; Foa and Foa, 1974); whereas interdependence theorists have not published a comparable survey (notwithstanding one-off efforts by Rusbult, 1980, 1983; see Rusbult et al, 1986). When we conducted a search entering the terms “resource exchange,” “Role Behavior Test,” and “Foa” via PsycInfo and Academic Search

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion