The effects of reciprocity, type of relationship, and culture on relationship processes

Equity theory suggests that perceiving equity leads to better relationship outcomes than perceiving inequity. However, cultural and relationship differences in tolerance for inequity have been found, suggesting that those from more individualistic cultures may have less tolerance for inequity with f...

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Main Authors: Gertrude C. Ah Gang @ Grace, Stukas, Arthur A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2015
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10067/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10067/1/157-589-1-PB.pdf
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author Gertrude C. Ah Gang @ Grace,
Stukas, Arthur A.
author_facet Gertrude C. Ah Gang @ Grace,
Stukas, Arthur A.
author_sort Gertrude C. Ah Gang @ Grace,
building UKM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Equity theory suggests that perceiving equity leads to better relationship outcomes than perceiving inequity. However, cultural and relationship differences in tolerance for inequity have been found, suggesting that those from more individualistic cultures may have less tolerance for inequity with friends than those from more collectivistic cultures, with the latter group discriminating more clearly in their reactions to friends and strangers. In our first study, Kadazandusun (N=282) and Australian (N=255) participants evaluated their actual reciprocity in social support with a close friend. In our second study, 103 South East Asians and 128 Australians were randomly assigned to respond to a scenario presenting equity or inequity (underbenefit or overbenefit) with either a close friend or stranger. Study 1 found that participants from both cultures reported reduced desires for future interaction, positive feelings and closeness when they experienced under-benefit as compared to over-benefit or equity. In Study 2, participants from both cultures also reported reduced desires for future interaction, positive feelings and trust when there was inequity and reported a more negative reaction to a stranger than a close friend. These findings are consistent with equity theory and support its cross-cultural applicability.
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spelling oai:generic.eprints.org:100672017-02-07T10:10:45Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10067/ The effects of reciprocity, type of relationship, and culture on relationship processes Gertrude C. Ah Gang @ Grace, Stukas, Arthur A. Equity theory suggests that perceiving equity leads to better relationship outcomes than perceiving inequity. However, cultural and relationship differences in tolerance for inequity have been found, suggesting that those from more individualistic cultures may have less tolerance for inequity with friends than those from more collectivistic cultures, with the latter group discriminating more clearly in their reactions to friends and strangers. In our first study, Kadazandusun (N=282) and Australian (N=255) participants evaluated their actual reciprocity in social support with a close friend. In our second study, 103 South East Asians and 128 Australians were randomly assigned to respond to a scenario presenting equity or inequity (underbenefit or overbenefit) with either a close friend or stranger. Study 1 found that participants from both cultures reported reduced desires for future interaction, positive feelings and closeness when they experienced under-benefit as compared to over-benefit or equity. In Study 2, participants from both cultures also reported reduced desires for future interaction, positive feelings and trust when there was inequity and reported a more negative reaction to a stranger than a close friend. These findings are consistent with equity theory and support its cross-cultural applicability. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2015 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10067/1/157-589-1-PB.pdf Gertrude C. Ah Gang @ Grace, and Stukas, Arthur A. (2015) The effects of reciprocity, type of relationship, and culture on relationship processes. Jurnal Psikologi Malaysia, 29 (2). pp. 20-31. ISSN 2289-8174 http://spaj.ukm.my/ppppm/jpm/index
spellingShingle Gertrude C. Ah Gang @ Grace,
Stukas, Arthur A.
The effects of reciprocity, type of relationship, and culture on relationship processes
title The effects of reciprocity, type of relationship, and culture on relationship processes
title_full The effects of reciprocity, type of relationship, and culture on relationship processes
title_fullStr The effects of reciprocity, type of relationship, and culture on relationship processes
title_full_unstemmed The effects of reciprocity, type of relationship, and culture on relationship processes
title_short The effects of reciprocity, type of relationship, and culture on relationship processes
title_sort effects of reciprocity, type of relationship, and culture on relationship processes
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10067/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10067/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/10067/1/157-589-1-PB.pdf