Exchange of Respect-Denying Behaviors among Male-Female Friendships

Abstract

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that between-gender friendships are characterized primarily by behavioral exchanges involving respect but not affection (i.e. correlations between men's and women's behaviors would reach significance only for respect-related behavior). A total of 62 pairs of male-female pairs completed a 12-item version of the Role Behavior Test (Foa & Foa, 1974), designed to measure partners' frequency of affection-giving, affection-denying, respect-giving and respect-denying behaviors; individuals reported the extent to which partners enacted each of the behaviors during the two weeks prior to participation in the study. Canonical correlation analyses of the behavioral data revealed that, as expected, no consistent pattern emerged regarding reciprocity of affection-giving or affection-denying behavior (i.e. males' and females' affection-related behaviors were not correlated significantly). In contrast, as expected, a clear pattern of reciprocity of respect-related exchange did emerge (i.e. males' and females' respect-related behaviors were correlated significantly). However, behavioral exchanges relevant to respect appeared to be limited to respect-denying (and not respect-giving) actions. Comparisons with male-male ( n = 62 pairs) and female-female (n = 65 pairs) friendships indicated that only among the male-female pairs did any consistent pattern of resource exchange occur. Implications for the study of male-female friendships are discussed.

Gender‐related personality traits and interpersonal resource exchange among brother—sister relationships

“…The patterns of resource exchange found among brother-sister pairs in the present study are highly similar to those found in a previous study of heterosexual dating cou-ples (Gaines, 1996, Study l), among whom affection-giving, respect-giving, and affection-denying behaviors were exchanged at significant levels. In contrast, the patterns of resource exchange found among brothersister pairs was highly dissimilar to those found in a previous study of male-female friendships (Gaines, 1994), among whom exchanges were limited to respect-denying behaviors; no such exchanges were evident in the present study of brother-sister pairs. Given that the literature on peer relationship processes typically emphasizes similarities between sibling relationships and friendships (von Salisch, 1997; see also Wish et al, 1976), the results of the present study may seem counterintuitive.…”

“…We adopted conservative criteria for evaluating canonical correlation results: First, we required statistical significance at the multivariate level prior to inspecting canonical coefficients. Second, we limited our attention to those pairs of canonical coefficients for which (a) the valences were of the same sign and (b) the magnitudes were .20 or greater (see also Gaines, 1994).…”

“…In contrast, perhaps crosssex friendships do not benefit from such a modeling process. In fact, few (if any) models for male-female friendship interactions exist within contemporary American society (Gaines, 1994).…”

“…The similarity between patterns of interpersonal resource exchange among malefemale sibling relationships and malefemale dating relationships also may suggest that (a) individuals' experience of psychological closeness is similar across the two types of relationships and that (b) the psychological closeness experienced by individuals in those two types of relationships is qualitatively different from that experi-enced by individuals in male-female friendships. Gaines (1994) speculated that the apparent emphasis on exchanging disrespectful behaviors in male-female friendships may signify individuals' frustration over the fact that they are not romantically involved. However, the results of the present study do not support such a claim.…”

Respect and the Family

“…So it is a natural topic with which to begin this section. Gaines (1994) was one of the first social science scholars to study respect explicitly within friendship and romantic pairs. He examined respect-giving and respect-denying behaviors along with affection behaviors in both same-sex and cross-sex friendships.…”