Sex Differences in the Use of Demand and Withdraw Behavior in Marriage: Examining the Social Structure Hypothesis

Studies consistently show sex differences in married couples' use of demand and withdraw behavior. The social structure hypothesis proposes that these differences are the result of power differentials between spouses. This study examined the link between 3 aspects of marital power and demanding...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of counseling psychology 2007-04, Vol.54 (2), p.165-177
Main Authors: Vogel, David L, Murphy, Megan J, Werner-Wilson, Ronald J, Cutrona, Carolyn E, Seeman, Joann
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavior
Biological and medical sciences
Communication
Correlation
Couple and family
Couples
Decision Making
Demand
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gender Differences
Human
Human Sex Differences
Hypotheses
Interpersonal Control
Male
Marital Instability
Marital power
Marital Relations
Marriage
Power Structure
Problem Solving
Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Social psychology
Social Structure
Spouses
Withdrawal behaviour
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Summary:Studies consistently show sex differences in married couples' use of demand and withdraw behavior. The social structure hypothesis proposes that these differences are the result of power differentials between spouses. This study examined the link between 3 aspects of marital power and demanding and withdrawal behavior. Contrary to social structure predictions, results showed that wives did not possess less decision-making ability or access to resources and appeared to exhibit greater situational power (i.e., domineering and dominant behaviors) than did their husbands during problem-solving discussions. Furthermore, the spouse who exhibited the most demands also exhibited the most domineering and dominant behaviors, whereas the spouse who exhibited the most withdrawal exhibited the least domineering and dominant behaviors during problem-solving discussions.
ISSN:0022-0167
1939-2168
DOI:10.1037/0022-0167.54.2.165