THE BALANCE OF POWER IN ROMANTIC HETEROSEXUAL COUPLES OVER TIME FROM HIS AND HER PERSPECTIVES

In this investigation, the balance of power between men and women in r omantic relationships was examined with a sample of 101 heterosexual c ouples, some of whom were surveyed up to five times over a four-year p eriod. A majority of the participants (who were primarily Caucasian an d middle class) reported some imbalance in power in their relationship (53% of the men and 52% of the women on a global measure of power; 67 % of the men and 65% of the women on a measure of decision making). Th e longitudinal data indicated that perceptions of power were quite sta ble over time. When power imbalances in relationships occurred the mal e partner was more likely than the female to be seen as the power hold er although these differences were statistically significant only for. melt (full sample). In support of W. Waller's ''principle of least in terest'' [(1937) The Family: A Dynamic Interpretation, New York: Gordo n], being the less emotionally involved partner in the relationship wa s associated with greater power. We further found that men were more l ikely than women to perceive themselves as the less emotionally invest ed partner Perceptions of power balance were generally unrelated to ei ther relationship satisfaction or to the likelihood that the couple br oke up over time. In one exception men who perceived their relationshi p to be equal in power (but not decision making) reported the highest level of satisfaction. We conclude that the balance of power still oft en favors men in these romantic couples (especially in decision making ), although couples do not always agree on their perceptions, with mal e partners tending to see more male dominance than females.