Exchange Theory

Key Concepts Exchange relationships develop within structures of interdependence between actors. Exchange relationships develop within structures of interdependence between actors. Positions (horizontal, vertical, central) affect exchange opportunities Positions (horizontal, vertical, central) affect exchange opportunities Positions affect value of resources Positions affect value of resources Generalized and restricted exchanges Generalized and restricted exchanges Actors make rational decisions. Actors make rational decisions. Actors behave in ways that increase outcomes they positively value (rewards) and decrease outcomes they negatively value (costs). Actors behave in ways that increase outcomes they positively value (rewards) and decrease outcomes they negatively value (costs). Principle of Least Costs Principle of Least Costs Comparison Levels Comparison Levels

Horizontal Vertical Central

Key Concepts Exchange relationships develop within structures of interdependence between actors. Exchange relationships develop within structures of interdependence between actors. Positions (horizontal, vertical, central) affect exchange opportunities Positions (horizontal, vertical, central) affect exchange opportunities Positions affect value of resources Positions affect value of resources Generalized and restricted exchanges Generalized and restricted exchanges Actors make rational decisions. Actors make rational decisions. Actors behave in ways that increase outcomes they positively value (rewards) and decrease outcomes they negatively value (costs). Actors behave in ways that increase outcomes they positively value (rewards) and decrease outcomes they negatively value (costs). Principle of Least Costs Principle of Least Costs Comparison Levels Comparison Levels

A “Rational” Decision? Husband Is Breadwinner Wife Is Breadwinner This line shows how much housework the HUSBAND does NoneNone About Equal NoneNone Why?

Key Concepts Exchange relationships develop within structures of interdependence between actors. Exchange relationships develop within structures of interdependence between actors. Positions (horizontal, vertical, central) affect exchange opportunities Positions (horizontal, vertical, central) affect exchange opportunities Positions affect value of resources Positions affect value of resources Generalized and restricted exchanges Generalized and restricted exchanges Actors make rational decisions. Actors make rational decisions. Actors behave in ways that increase outcomes they positively value (rewards) and decrease outcomes they negatively value (costs). Actors behave in ways that increase outcomes they positively value (rewards) and decrease outcomes they negatively value (costs). Principle of Least Costs Principle of Least Costs Comparison Levels Comparison Levels

Exchange Resources (Rewards) Blau: Personal attraction, social acceptance, social approval, instrumental services, respect/prestige, and compliance/power. Foa & Foa: Love, status, services, goods, information, and money. Merton and Davis: Race and caste Gonzales & Meyers: Attractiveness, financial security, expressiveness, instrumentality, sincerity, and sex. “Humans seek rewards and avoid costs” Actors behave in ways that increase outcomes they positively value and decrease outcomes they negatively value.

Exchange Resources At Risk In Homosexual and Interracial Relationships Social Acceptance Social Approval Respect and Prestige Status Security “Humans seek rewards and avoid costs” Actors behave in ways that increase outcomes they positively value and decrease outcomes they negatively value.

Methodology San Francisco, CA Phoenix, AZ Denver, CO Dallas, TX Houston, TX Kansas City, KS St. Louis, MO Miami, FL Baltimore, MD Collection of nearly 7000 personal advertisements from the personal ads sections of ten cities’ free newsweeklies (i.e., City Papers): Chosen for their regional diversity and ethnic makeup. New York City, NY

Newspaper Gender Sexual Orientation Race Age Race Desired Age Desired Type of Relationship Desired Gender Role For Self Gender Role For Other Mentions of HIV, Drugs, Children, and Religion Resources Offered/Sought – Physical Attractiveness – Financial Security – Expressive Traits – Instrumental Traits – Sincerity – Interest in Public and/or Private Relationship Trained coders recorded both objective information (e.g., race, age) and specific content categories (dichotomous, frequency, specific words) to be included in the analysis. Methodology cont’d

Desired Personal Characteristics This is the usual trend discussed in the literature

Desired Personal Characteristics Homosexual men are slightly less likely than heterosexual men to demand attractiveness. There’s no difference in success demands.

Offered Personal Characteristics This is the usual trend discussed in the literature

Offered Personal Characteristics There are larger differences in offered characteristics. Homosexual men are much more likely than heterosexual men to offer attractiveness and much less likely to offer success.

Type Of Relationship Sought Characteristics Offered Characteristics Sought Gay men more likely to seek longterm and private relationships

White Heterosexual Men Note the higher requirements for Black women