Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Exchange Process in Close Relationships

Microbehavior and Macromotives

  • Chapter
The Justice Motive in Social Behavior

Part of the book series: Critical Issues in Social Justice ((CISJ))

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).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Barry, W. A. Marriage research and conflict: An integrative review. Psychological Bulletin, 1970, 73, 41–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berscheid, E. and Walster, E. Interpersonal attraction (2nd ed.). Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berscheid, E., Walster, E., and Bohrnstedt, G. The body image report. Psychology Today, 1973, 7, 119–131.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blau, P. M. Exchange and power in social life. New York: Wiley, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, M. S., & Mills, J. Interpersonal attraction in exchange and communal relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1979, 37, 12–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deutsch, M. The resolution of conflict: Constructive and destructive processes. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dion, K. L., & Dion, K. K. Love, liking and trust in heterosexual relationships. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 1976, 2, 187–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foa, U. G., & Foa, E. B. Societal structures of the mind. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C Thomas, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill, C. T., Rubin, Z., & Peplau, L. A. Breakups before marriage: The end of 103 affairs. Journal of Social Issues, 1976, 32, 147–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, J. W., & Dawes, R. M. Linear prediction of marital happiness. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 1976, 2, 478–480.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, H. H. Personal relations: Their structure and process. Hillsdale, N.J.: Erlbaum, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, H. H., & Thibaut, J. W. Jnterpersonal relations: A theory of interdependence. New York: Wiley, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lederer, W. J., & Jackson, D. D. The mirages of marriage. New York: Norton, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lerner, M. J. The justice motive: Some hypotheses as to its origin and forms. Journal of Personality, 1977, 45, 1–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levinger, G. A social psychological perspective on marriage dissolution. Journal of Social Issues, 1976, 32, 21–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levinger, G., & Snoek, J. D. Attraction in relationships: A new look at interpersonal attraction. Morristown, N. J.: General Learning Press, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moles, O. C., & Levinger, G. (Eds.) Divorce and separation. Journal of Social Issues, 1976, 32, 1–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Google Scholar 

  • Platt, J. Social traps. American Psychologist, 1973, 28, 641–651.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pruitt, D. G. Methods for resolving differences of interest: A theoretical analysis. Journal of Social Issues, 1972, 28, 133–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raush, H. L., Barry, W. A., Hertel, R. K., and Swain, M. A. Communication, Conflict and Marriage. Washington: Jossey-Bass, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, M., & Sicoly, F. Egocentric biases in availability and attribution. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1979, 37, 322–336.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rubin, Z. Liking and loving: An invitation to social psychology. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schelling, T. C. Micromotives and macrobehavior. New York: Norton, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thibaut, J. W., & Kelley, H. H. The social psychology of groups. New York: Wiley, 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walster, E., Walster, G. W., & Berscheid, E. Equity: Theory and research. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walster, E., Walster, G. W., & Traupmann, J. Equity and premarital sex. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1978, 36, 82–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walton, R. E., & McKersie, R. B. A behavioral theory of labor negotiations: An analysis of a social interaction system. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada

    John G. Holmes

Authors
  1. John G. Holmes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3G1

    Melvin J. Lerner

  2. Environmental Studies, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada

    Sally C. Lerner

Rights and permissions

Reprints 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

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation