Exchange of Respect-Denying Behaviors among Male-Female Friendships

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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.