Predicting Gender Differences in Same-Sex Friendships from Affiliation Motive and Value

Abstract

In order to explore factors that influence gender differences in same-sex friendship behaviors, the present study examined how affiliation motive, as measured by thematic apperception to same-sex cues, and affiliation value, obtained from a modified Edwards (1957) Personal Preference Scale, determined type of friendship situation (unstructured, structured, or group) and its particular qualities for 37 female and 31 male undergraduates. Men consistently had lower affiliation motivation and affiliation values than women. Subjects' reports of actual friendship episodes showed gender differences in type of friendship episode, self-disclosure, and involvement. However, there were no gender differences in mood and levels of meaningfulness, pleasantness, and satisfaction with the episodes, suggesting that the sexes differed in their manner of engaging in friendship, but not in subjective outcomes. Regression analyses indicated that some of these differences were partially a function of gender differences in personality determinants of friendship behavior.