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…

Investigated the relationship between marital satisfaction and perceptions of the distribution of housework and child care from two theoretical perspectives--social exchange and equity--in four population groups. Results show that there are significant relationships between marital satisfaction and perceptions of the distribution of housework and…

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)

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…

The family ideology of black Americans is compared with actual family arrangements and lifestyles. Exchange theory is used to explain the conflict between family ideology and structural conditions: in general, black women fail to marry or remain married when the costs outweight the benefits of such an arrangement. (Author/BL)

Attempted to predict relationship satisfaction in students (N=131) while controlling for the length of the relationship through an initial data collection and two subsequent follow-ups. Results indicated that involvement, reward level, and chance of marriage were all significant predictors of stability both at the three-month and the seven-month…

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…

Small isolated theories can be restated as choice and exchange theory; in effect, incorporating them into the theory. The procedure employed is to state the implicit or explicit propositions of the small theories in ordinary language, then restate and extend them. (Author)

Examined the circumstances surrounding marriage termination in relation to the aftermath of marital separation. Collected data from a nonprobability sample of 205 individuals. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that 41 percent of the variance in acceptance of marital termination can be explained by marital history variables. (Author/RC)

Investigated the extent to which Swedish couples (N=128) share domestic tasks using a mail survey. Suggests Swedish couples shared household chores more evenly than American couples. Results indicated variables measuring social exchange theory, family life-cycle stage, and socialization had the greatest influence on role sharing behavior.…

Proposes a social-psychological model of the dissolution decision in marriage based on prior theoretical formulations. Sequential in character and emphasizing the duality of the marital relationship, the model modifies and refines previous theoretical efforts, and seeks to extend their explanatory power by incorporating various principles of…

Childless spouses were significantly more liberal toward divorce than were spouses with children, with childless wives being the most liberal of all. Husbands were more influenced by the perceived quality of the marital relationship, in support of cognitive dissonance theory. (Author)