Abstract
Following years of apparent neglect, the study of close relationships is emerging as an important focus for social psychologists. Until a decade ago, research on the topic was typically confined to identifying predictors of marital harmony or discord (cf. Barry, 1970). The demographic characteristics of couples, such as education, status, and family background, were examined in order to portray relationships that were “at risk.” The large majority of studies used either self-ratings of satisfaction or divorce rates as reflections of troubled relationships. With the noteworthy exception of Levinger’s contribution (see Levinger & Snoek, 1972), the research was marked by a lack of concern with considerations of both process and theory. Recent contributions have demonstrated an interest in the theoretical development of models of intimate exchange and “pair cohesiveness” (e.g., Kelley, 1979; Moles & Levinger, 1976), though evidence of an emphasis on the process of conflict and estrangement is meagre (e.g., Hill, Rubin, & Peplau, 1976; Kelley, 1979; Passer, Kelley, & Michela, 1978).
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barry, W. A. Marriage research and conflict: An integrative review. Psychological Bulletin, 1970, 73, 41–54.
Berscheid, E. and Walster, E. Interpersonal attraction (2nd ed.). Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley, 1978.
Berscheid, E., Walster, E., and Bohrnstedt, G. The body image report. Psychology Today, 1973, 7, 119–131.
Birchler, G. R., Weiss, R. L., & Vincent, J. P. Multimethod analysis of social reinforcement exchange between maritally distressed and nondistressed spouse and stranger dyads. journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1975, 31, 349–360.
Blau, P. M. Exchange and power in social life. New York: Wiley, 1964.
Clark, M. S., & Mills, J. Interpersonal attraction in exchange and communal relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1979, 37, 12–24.
Deutsch, M. The resolution of conflict: Constructive and destructive processes. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1973.
Deutsch, M. Equity, equality, and need: What determines which value will be used as the basis of distributive justice? Journal of Social Issues, 1975, 31, 137–156.
Dion, K. L., & Dion, K. K. Love, liking and trust in heterosexual relationships. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 1976, 2, 187–190.
Driscoll, R., Davis, K. E., & Lipetz, M. E. Parental interference and romantic love: The Romeo and Juliet effect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1972, 24, 1–10.
Erickson, B., Holmes, J. G., Frey, R., Walker, L., & Thibaut, J. W. Functions of a third party in the resolution of conflict: The role of a judge in pretrail conferences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1974, 30, 293–306.
Foa, U. G., & Foa, E. B. Societal structures of the mind. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C Thomas, 1974.
Gottman, J., Notarius, C., Markman, H., Bank, S., Yoppi, B., & Rubin, M. E. Behavior exchange theory and marital decision making. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1976, 34, 14–23.
Hastie, R., & Kumar, P. A. Person memory: Personality traits as organizing principles in memory for behaviors. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1979, 37, 25–38.
Hill, C. T., Rubin, Z., & Peplau, L. A. Breakups before marriage: The end of 103 affairs. Journal of Social Issues, 1976, 32, 147–168.
Holmes, J. G., & Miller, D. T. Interpersonal conflict. In J. W. Thibaut, J. T. Spence, & R. C. Carson (Eds.), Contemporary topics in social psychology. Morristown, N.J.: General Learning Press, 1976, pp. 265–308.
Howard, J. W., & Dawes, R. M. Linear prediction of marital happiness. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 1976, 2, 478–480.
Huesmann, L. R. and Levinger, G. Incremental exchange theory: A formal model for progression in dyadic social interaction. In L. Berkowitz & E. Walster (Eds.), Advances in experimental social psychology, Vol. 9. New York: Academic Press, 1976.
Kelley, H. H. A classroom study of the dilemmas in interpersonal negotiations. In K. Archibald (Ed.), Strategic interaction and conflict. Berkeley: Berkeley University of California Press, 1966, pp. 49–73.
Kelley, H. H. Personal relations: Their structure and process. Hillsdale, N.J.: Erlbaum, 1979.
Kelley, H. H., & Thibaut, J. W. Jnterpersonal relations: A theory of interdependence. New York: Wiley, 1978.
Lederer, W. J., & Jackson, D. D. The mirages of marriage. New York: Norton, 1968.
Lerner, M. J. The justice motive: Some hypotheses as to its origin and forms. Journal of Personality, 1977, 45, 1–52.
Lerner, M. J., Miller, D. T., & Holmes, J. G. Deserving and the emergence of forms of justice. In L. Berkowitz & E. Walster (Eds.), Advances in experimental social psychology, Vol. 9. New York: Academic Press, 1976, pp. 134–162.
Lerner, M. J., & Whitehead, L. Procedural justice viewed in the context of justice motive theory. In G. Mikula (Ed.), Social Justice. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1980.
Levinger, G. A social psychological perspective on marriage dissolution. Journal of Social Issues, 1976, 32, 21–47.
Levinger, G., & Snoek, J. D. Attraction in relationships: A new look at interpersonal attraction. Morristown, N. J.: General Learning Press, 1972.
Moles, O. C., & Levinger, G. (Eds.) Divorce and separation. Journal of Social Issues, 1976, 32, 1–5.
Orvis, B. R., Kelley, H. H., & Butler, D. Attriburional conflict in young couples. In J. H. Harvey, W. J. Ickes, & R. E. Kidd (Eds.), New directions in attribution research, Vol. 1. Hillsdale, N. J.: Erlbaum, 1976, pp. 353–386.
Passer, M. W., Kelley, H. H., & Michela, J. L. Multidimensional scaling of the causes for negative interpersonal behavior, journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1978, 36, 951–962.
Patterson, G. R., & Hops, H. Coercion, a game for two: Intervention techniques for marital conflict. In R. E. Ulrich & P. Mountjoy (Eds.), The experimental analysis of social behavior. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1972.
Platt, J. Social traps. American Psychologist, 1973, 28, 641–651.
Pruitt, D. G. Methods for resolving differences of interest: A theoretical analysis. Journal of Social Issues, 1972, 28, 133–154.
Raush, H. L., Barry, W. A., Hertel, R. K., and Swain, M. A. Communication, Conflict and Marriage. Washington: Jossey-Bass, 1974.
Ross, M., & Sicoly, F. Egocentric biases in availability and attribution. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1979, 37, 322–336.
Rubin, Z. Liking and loving: An invitation to social psychology. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1973.
Schelling, T. C. Micromotives and macrobehavior. New York: Norton, 1978.
Seligman, C., Fazio, R. H., & Zanna, M. P. Effects of salience of extrinsic rewards on liking and loving. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1980, 38, 453–460.
Thibaut, J. W., & Faucheux, C. The development of contractual norms in a bargaining situation under two types of stress. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 1965, 1, 89–102.
Thibaut, J. W., & Kelley, H. H. The social psychology of groups. New York: Wiley, 1959.
Turner, J. L., Foa, E. B., & Foa, U. G. Interpersonal reinforcers: Classification, interrelationship and some differential properties. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1971, 19, 168–180.
Walster, E., Walster, G. W., & Berscheid, E. Equity: Theory and research. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 1978.
Walster, E., Walster, G. W., & Traupmann, J. Equity and premarital sex. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1978, 36, 82–92.
Walton, R. E., & McKersie, R. B. A behavioral theory of labor negotiations: An analysis of a social interaction system. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1965.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1981 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Holmes, J.G. (1981). The Exchange Process in Close Relationships. In: Lerner, M.J., Lerner, S.C. (eds) The Justice Motive in Social Behavior. Critical Issues in Social Justice. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0429-4_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0429-4_12
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-0431-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-0429-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive