Abstract
Despite the importance of affectionate communication for relational development and maintenance, individuals expressing affection incur a number of risks, including possible misinterpretation of the expressions as sexual overtures. These risks appear to be magnified in the male-male relationship, where overt expressions of affection may be all but prohibited by normative expectancies. The present study examines expectancies for appropriate male-male affection. Although empirical research supports the idea that overt affection is considered less appropriate in male-male relationships than in relationships with women, it also suggests that three variables may moderate this expectancy: relationship type, emotional intensity of the context, and privacy level of the context. An experimental procedure with 140 men (approximately 95% caucasian) confirmed the moderating effects of these variables.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 871-881 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Sex Roles |
Volume | 38 |
Issue number | 9-10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 1998 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Gender Studies
- Social Psychology
- Developmental and Educational Psychology