Balancing the power in dating relationships

This paper explores the link between perceived egalitarianism in dating relationships and several social-psychological factors that characterize intimate relationships. Data from a sample of nonmarried college students (N=328) suggest that factors such as trust, commitment, other orientation, and dependency are strongly related to perceived egalitarianism, but that comparative resources generally are not significantly related to perceived egalitarianism in dating relationships. It is suggested here that various interpersonal values that operate in intimate relationships may disguise or counteract inequality in intimate heterosexual relationships. These findings suggest the importance of moving beyond a social-exchange perspective in order to understand interpersonal power and of focusing on the role that interpersonal values play in this process.