Equity and sexual satisfaction in dating couples

Abstract

This study was designed to determine whether or not equity considerations are important in dating couples' most intimate of relationships-their sexual relations. To answer this question, we interviewed 189 college men and women. We proposed: Men and women who feel their relationships are equitable (1) should be more content, and (2) should have more satisfying sexual relations than those who feel either overbenefited or underbenefited. We found strong support for the first hypothesis and some, far weaker support, for the second hypothesis. Theoretical background Equity theory consists of four interlocking propositions (see Hatfield et al., 1979~).Theorists argue that individuals try to maximize their outcomes (Proposition I). Groups can maximize collective outcomes by devising an equitable system for sharing resources. Thus, groups try to induce members to behave equitably. They can do' this in only one way-by making it more profitable to be 'generous' than to be greedy. They reward those who behave equitably and punish those who do not (Proposition 11). When socialized persons find themselves enmeshed in inequitable relationships, they experience distress (Proposition 111) and are moved to reduce such distress, by restoring either actual equity or psychological equity to their relationships (Proposition IV).There is a great deal of evidence that equity theory considerations are critically important in determining how people act in relatively superficial encounters. Equity considerations have been found to be important in such diverse areas as employer/ employee relationships, exploiter/victim relationships, and philanthropist/recipient relationships (see Walster et al., 1978). Recently, equity theory has been applied to intimate relationships-to dating couples' encounters (Hatfield et al., 19796), to married couples' interactions (Traupmann et al., 1981;Traupmann & Hatfield, 1983), and even to extramarital liaisons (Hatfield et al., 1979~). There is accumulating evidence that the same equity considerations that shape relatively superficial encounters shape intimate relationships too. As yet, however, theorists have not explored the extent to which equity considerations are related to what goes on in a couple's most intimate of relations, their sexual relations. The present correlational study was designed to do just that.According to Proposition 111, 'When individuals find themselves participating in inequitable relationships, they will become distressed. The more inequitable the relationship, the more distress they will feel.' Thus couples in equitable relationships should feel fairly comfortable about their relationships; couples in inequitable relationships should not.It is obvious why 'underbenefited' men and women (who feel they are getting far less than they deserve) would feel uncomfortable-they have every reason to feel resentful and angry; but, at first consideration, it is not obvious that their overbenefited mates should feel uneasy too. According to equity theorists, however, they should. The 'overbe...

Social exchange theories and sexuality

“…If couples dislike or hate one another, feel trapped in inequitable relationships, or feel uncomfortable in one another's presence, their deep-seated resentment or guilt may corrode their sexual encounters. (Hatfield, Greenberger, Traupmann, & Lambert, 1982, p. 20) Hatfield and her colleagues examined how equity, assessed via a global measure for the entire relationship, was related to sexual satisfaction in both dating couples (Traupmann, Hatfield, & Wexler, 1983) and in married couples (Hatfield et al, 1982). In their study of married couples, Hatfield et al (1982) found that equitably treated husbands and wives were more sexually satisfied overall than were overbenefited and underbenefited husbands and wives.…”

“…Equitably treated and overbenefited respondents judged their sexual interactions to be more satisfying and less frustrating than underbenefited respondents. In their study of dating couples, Traupmann et al (1983) found that both equitably treated and overbenefited men and women experienced more overall sexual satisfaction than the underbenefited respondents. Even more support for equity predictions were found for the items asking about satisfaction immediately after a sexual encounter.…”

“…Furthermore, in the study of how exchange is related to sexuality outcomes, such as sexual satisfaction, should the emphasis be on measures of exchange within the sexual relationship or measures of exchange in the entire relationship? Equity theorists who have applied equity to sexuality have focused on equity for the entire relationship (e.g., Hatfield et al, 1982;Traupmann et al, 1983) but have acknowledged that the focus should perhaps be on equity in sexual behaviors (Hatfield et al, 1982). The Lawrance and Byers (1995) Interpersonal Model of Sexual Satisfaction and the research based on this model are unique in that all exchange variables are conceptualized and measured for the sexual aspect of the relationship.…”

The enhancement of intimacy and the reduction of loneliness among child molesters

“…Happy couples are typically involved in equitable relationships where they participate in joint pleasurable activities such as sports, hobbies, social events, and other leisure activities (Birchler and Webb, 1977). In these equitable relationships, couples have sex more frequently and derive greater satisfaction from it than do couples whose relationships are tess equitable (Reiss and Lee, 1988;Traupmann et aL, 1983;Walster et aL, 1978). We help clients identify a range of leisure activities they would enjoy and that they might share with a partner.…”

Multiple sex partners among college women and men: Sexual behaviors and sexual satisfaction revisited

“…For men, however, greater sexual satisfaction was related to having a large number of sex partners and frequent sexual intercourse (Mahoney, 1983). Women reported less sexual satisfaction when they perceived themselves as having emotionally received more from the relationship than they deserved, whereas the level of sexual satisfaction remained virtually unchanged for men under similar circumstances (Traupmann, Hatfield, and Wexler 1983). Thus, women placed greater emphasis than men on the emotional aspects of the relationship and were more inclined to view the pleasure-giving qualities of sexuality as both physiologically and psychologically more diffuse (Darling and Davidson 1987).…”