Age, Exchange, and the Attribution of Power

Abstract

Dowd (1975) used social exchange theory to analyze interactions in nonfamily, nonfriendship situations between persons of different ages in industrial societies like that of the United States. One important effect (dependent variable) to be explained in such situations is the interpersonal attribution of power. The argument that Dowd proposed to explain this effect emphasizes two determinants (independent variables): objective power (exchange ratio) and age as a status characteristic. The study reported here tests experimentally the implications of the argument. The results, based on a scenario presented to American undergraduates, indicate partial support for Dowd's argument. In assessing these findings, methodological differences between Dowd's research and the present study are noted, and previous research on the effects of “vividness” in interpersonal inferences is discussed.