A balance theory explanation of challenges confronting cross-sex friendships |
| |
Authors: | Michael Monsour Vickie Harvey Sam Betty |
| |
Institution: | 1. University of Colorado at Denver, P.O. Box 173364, Department of Communications, Box 176, 80217-3364, Denver, CO 2. John Carroll University, Denver 3. University of Colorado at Denver, Denver
|
| |
Abstract: | This study was part of an ongoing investigation into four of the potential challenges confronting women and men in cross-sex fiendships (O’Meara, 1989). Unlike previous research, which explored the perspective of only one member of each cross-sex fnendship, this study examined the perspectives of both individuals in cross-sex fienhhips. The levels of actual and perceived agreement and understanding were investigated through utilization of a variation of Heiderian Balance Theory and Laing’s Interpersonal Perception Method. Seventy three pairs of cross-sex fiends completed a survey examining direct perspectives, metaperspectives, and meta-metaperspectives, on the four challenges. Over 92% of the participants were heterosexual, 68% were Caucasian, 10% were Afican American, 10% were Hispanic, 3% were Asian, 4% were Native American, and 5% indicated “other.” Results indicate that cross-sex fiends generally agree that O’Meara’s four challenges present only minimal problems in their individual relationships, and that balance theory provides a viable explanation of how perceived agreement and understanding concerning challenges are arrived at within cross-sex fnendships. Additionally, results illustrating disagreements and misunderstandings within cross-sex friendships highlight the importance of looking at the perspectives of both individuals within a dyad. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|