African American and European American College Students' Expectations for Self and for Future Partners

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine self-expectations, expectations for future partners, and comparative expectations (self versus partner) held by college students. Participants were 33 African American males, 57 African American females, 53 European American males, and 74 European American females. African Americans had higher self-expectations regarding future income, probability of being a professional success, and educational achievement than European Americans. There were no differences in expectations for future partners' success. However, there were gender differences in comparative expectations. Females expected their future partners to be more intelligent, more able to solve problems, and more successful professionally and to make more money than themselves, and males expected their future partners to do more parenting than they expected to do. The pattern of responses for Black men and Black women was similar to that of White men and women.