Abstract
In this investigation, the balance of power between men and women in romantic relationships was examined with a sample of 101 heterosexual couples, some of whom were surveyed up to jive times over a four-year period. A majority of the participants (who were primarily Caucasian and 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). The longitudinal data indicated that perceptions of power were quite stable over time. When power imbalances in relationships occurred, the male partner was more likely than the female to be seen as the power holder, although these differences were statistically significant only for men (full sample). In support of W. Waller's “principle of least interest” [(1937) The Family: A Dynamic Interpretation, New York: Gordon], being the less emotionally involved partner in the relationship was associated with greater power. We further found that men were more likely than women to perceive themselves as the less emotionally invested partner. Perceptions of power balance were generally unrelated to either relationship satisfaction or to the likelihood that the couple broke up over time. In one exception, men who perceived their relationship to be equal in power (but not decision making) reported the highest level of satisfaction. We conclude that the balance of power still often favors men in these romantic couples (especially in decision making), although couples do not always agree on their perceptions, with male partners tending to see more male dominance than females.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Blumberg, R. L., & Coleman, M. T. (1989). A theoretical look at the gender balance of power in the American couple. Journal of Family Issues, 10, 225–250.
Blumstein, P., & Schwartz, P. (1983). American couples. New York: Morrow.
Caldwell, M. A., & Peplau, L. A. (1984). The balance of power in lesbian relationships. Sex Roles, 10, 587–599.
Centers, R., Raven, B. H., & Rodrigues, A. (1971). Conjugal power structure: A reexamination. American Sociological Review, 36, 264–278.
Corrales, C. G. (1975). Power and satisfaction in early marriage. In R. E. Cromwell & D. H. Olson (Eds.), Power in families. New York: Wiley.
Cromwell, R. E., & Olson, D. (Eds.). (1975). Power in families. New York: Wiley.
Felmlee, D. H. (1994). Who's on top? Power in romantic relationships. Sex Roles, 31, 275–295.
Felmlee, D., Sprecher, S., & Bassin, E. (1990). The dissolution of intimate relationships: A hazard model. Social Psychology Quarterly, 53, 13–30.
Filsinger, E. E., & Thoma, S. J. (1988). Behavioral antecedents of relationship stability and adjustment: A five-year longitudinal study. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 50, 785–795.
Foa, U., & Foa, E. (1974). Societal structures of the mind. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
Gillespie, D. L. (1971). Who has the power? The marital struggle. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 33, 445–458.
Grauerholz, E. (1987). Balancing the power in dating relationships. Sex Roles, 17, 563–570.
Gray-Little, B., & Burks, N. (1983). Power and satisfaction in marriage: A review and critique. Psychological Bulletin, 93, 513–538.
Hendrick, S. (1988). A generic measure of relationship satisfaction. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 50, 93–98.
Homans, G. C. (1961). Social behavior. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World.
McCormick, N. B., & Jesser, C. J. (1983). The courtship game: Power in the sexual encounter. In E. R. Allgerer & N. B. McCormick, Changing boundaries: Gender roles and sexual behavior. Palo Alto, CA: Mayfield.
Murstein, B. I., & Adler, E. R. (1995). Gender differences in power and self-disclosure in dating and married couples. Personal Relationships, 2, 199–209.
Olson, D. H., & Cromwell, R. E. (1975). Methodological issues in family power. In R. E. Cromwell & D. H. Olson (Eds.), Power in families. New York: Wiley.
Peplau, L. A. (1979). Power in dating relationships. In J. Freeman (Ed.), Women: A feminist perspective (2nd ed.). Palo Alto, CA: Mayfield.
Peplau, L. A. (1984). Power in dating relationships. In J. Freeman (Ed.), Women: A feminist perspective (3rd ed.). Palo Alto, CA: Mayfield.
Peplau, L. A., & Campbell, S. M. (1989). Power in dating and marriage. In J. Freeman (Ed.), Women: A feminist perspective (4th ed.). Palo Alto, CA: Mayfield Publishing.
Ross, E. A. (1921). Principles of sociology. New York: Century.
Safilios-Rothschild, C. (1969). Family sociology or wives' family sociology: A cross-cultural examination of decision-making. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 38, 290–301.
Scanzoni, J. (1965). A note on the sufficiency of wife responses in family research. Pacific Sociological Review, 8, 109–115.
Sprecher, S. (1985). Sex differences in bases of power in dating relationships. Sex Roles, 12, 449–462.
Waller W. (1937). The rating and dating complex. American Sociological Review, 2, 727–734.
Waller, W. (1938). The family: A dynamic interpretation. New York: Gordon.
Waller, W. W., & Hill, R. (1951). The family, a dynamic interpretation. New York: Dryden Press.
Wood, J. T., & Duck, S. (1995). Off the beaten track: New shores for relationship research. In J. T. Wood & S. Duck (Eds.), Under-studied relationships: Off the beaten track. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sprecher, S., Felmlee, D. The Balance of Power in Romantic Heterosexual Couples Over Time from “His” and “Her” Perspectives. Sex Roles 37, 361–379 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025601423031
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025601423031