EXCHANGE OF RESPECT-DENYING BEHAVIORS AMONG MALE-FEMALE FRIENDSHIPS

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that between-gen der friendships are characterized primarily by behavioral exchanges in volving respect but not affection (i.e. correlations between men's and women's behaviors would reach significance only for respect-related b ehavior). A total of 62 pairs of male-female pairs completed a 12-item version of the Role Behavior Test (Foa & Foa, 1974), designed to meas ure partners' frequency of affection-giving, affection-denying, respec t-giving and respect-denying behaviors; individuals reported the exten t to which partners enacted each of the behaviors during the two weeks prior to participation in the study. Canonical correlation analyses o f the behavioral data revealed that, as expected, no consistent patter n emerged regarding reciprocity of affection-giving or affection-denyi ng behavior (i.e. males' and females' affection-related behaviors were not correlated significantly). In contrast, as expected, a clear patt ern 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 lim ited to respect-denying (and not respect-giving) actions. Comparisons with male-male (n = 62 pairs) and female-female (n = 65 pairs) friends hips indicated that only among the male-female pairs did any consisten t pattern of resource exchange occur. Implications for the study of ma le-female friendships are discussed.