IMPACT OF INTERPERSONAL TRAITS AND GENDER-ROLE COMPLIANCE ON INTERPERSONAL RESOURCE EXCHANGE AMONG DATING AND ENGAGED MARRIED COUPLES/

The following hypotheses regarding interpersonal resource exchange amo ng (a) dating couples (n = 206 couples) and (b) engaged/married couple s (n = 103 couples) were tested: (1) levels of affectionate behavior a re reciprocated (i.e. paths are bidirectional) among couples; (2) leve ls of respectful behavior are reciprocated among couples; (3) individu als' reported affectionate and respectful behaviors are correlated pos itively; (4) individuals' affection-giving traits are better as positi ve predictors of individuals' affectionate behavior among engaged/marr ied couples than among dating couples; (5) individuals' respect-giving traits are better as positive predictors of individuals' respectful b ehavior among engaged/married couples than among dating couples; (6) i ndividuals' gender-role compliance is better as a negative predictor o f individuals' affectionate behavior among dating couples than among e ngaged/married couples; and (7) individuals' gender-role compliance is better as a negative predictor of individuals' respectful behavior am ong dating couples than among engaged/married couples. individuals' in terpersonal traits and gender-role compliance were self-reported, wher eas individuals' interpersonal behaviors were reported by their partne rs. Results supported Hypotheses 1-3 (derived from resource exchange t heory proposed by Foa & Foa, 1974) but not Hypotheses 4-7 (derived fro m the model of levels of relational involvement proposed by Levinger & Snoek, 1972). Unexpectedly, affection-giving traits generally were po sitive predictors of affectionate and respectful behavior, whereas res pect-giving traits generally did not predict affectionate or respectfu l behavior. Implications for the study of interpersonal traits, gender roles and behavioral reciprocity in heterosexual relationships are di scussed.