Using longitudinal data from the National Survey of Families and Households and both wife- and husband-reported data (N = 4,574 couples), this study examined how financial well-being, financial disagreements, and perceptions of financial inequity were associated with the likelihood of divorce. When financial disagreements were in the model,…

Men who batter, because of particular personality traits and sense of entitlement, may select partners whom they perceive will be dependent on them, meet their emotional needs, or be "objects" of physical attractiveness. During treatment intake, 181 offenders responded to the question, "What attracted you to her (your…

Based upon qualitative data from a sample of 77 married or long-term cohabiting heterosexuals self-defining as involuntarily celibate, we used social exchange theory to develop a model for understanding the causes and consequences of sexual inactivity in committed relationships. Although reported consequences of involuntary celibacy tended to be…

Uses a developmental perspective on social interaction to trace gender differences in adulthood to relationship patterns that emerge in childhood. Summarizes results of: (1) experimental studies and naturalistic studies of workplace interaction in mixed-sex task-oriented groups; (2) same-sex interaction; (3) adult friendship; and (4) heterosexual…

Examined from a social exchange perspective, the interaction between several indicators of relational interdependence and relational commitment in married individuals. Results indicated that a high level of interdependence positively covaried with commitment. Perceived equity in the distribution of outcomes accounted for the largest percentage of…

Husband-to-wife violence has been the focus of much research and several theories have attempted to explain its occurrence. This study tested exchange theory and resource theory, examining the possibility that not only lower status husbands, but also husbands of higher status, may be influenced toward aggression by status discrepancies with their…

Describes the development of the Marital Comparison Level Index, based upon the interpersonal processes highlighted by social exchange perspectives on the evaluations of relationships. Data on 301 married individuals suggested that the relational dimensions are perceived as important, and the scale is both unidimensional and highly reliable. (JAC)

Explores marriages in which marriage and family life are organized around the wife's job or career rather than the husband's (N=46). Found three predictive social conditions: wives having traditionally male jobs, flexibility of husbands' jobs, and absence of children. Describes techniques of deviance neutralization used to minimize costs. (JAC)

Tested the utility of an exchange model for predicting divorce or withdrawal of divorce petitions, using court records and interviews of men and women who were divorced or subsequently withdrew their divorce petitions. Discriminant function analyses indicated that an exchange model can predict divorce versus petition withdrawal. (JAC)

Explicit marital negotiation is analyzed in terms of a three-stage model. Disparity between partners in possession of context variables influences bargaining strategies. The point is made that current negotiations have inevitably been influenced by prior bargaining and outcomes, and that current negotiations and outcomes provide the context for…

Examined the potential effects of correlated measurement errors among responses of wives and their husbands (N=349) on the utility of and expectations for another child. There was no change in the previous finding that wife's and husband's child utility had equal effects on expectations for another child. (JAC)

Based upon responses to questionnaires by 162 university married-housing couples, equity theory was used to explain the relations between affective self-disclosure and marital adjustment. Found that the greater discrepancy in partners' affective self-disclosure, the less was an individual's marital adjustment. (Author/RC)

Used data from 378 married couples to test applicability of resource theory and social exchange theory in explaining determinants of influence within a specific decision-making area (wives' employment). Results indicated increments in wives' resources correlate positively with wives' influence, while increments in husbands' resources correlate…

Marriages of respondents that ended in divorce were not as good as marriages of other couples they had known nor did the marriage meet expectations held prior to entering into the relationship. The most frequent problem was unfaithfulness. (Author)

There are four strategies spouses may attempt to employ in cases of conflict: authority, control, influence, and manipulation. Rates of marital dissolution are a function of the relative equality between spouses in terms of the types of conflict-resolution strategies they are able to employ. (Author)