Anticipation of Future Interaction and the Estimation of Current Rewards

• Main Author: Pannen, Donald E
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: 01.04.1981
• Subjects: Behavior Patterns; Expectation; Human Relations; Interaction; Interpersonal Relationship; Prediction; Rewards; Social Cognition; Social Exchange Theory; Social Reinforcement

The evaluation of rewards and costs incurred in the context of interaction is central to equity and exchange theories of interpersonal behavior; however, the question of how this assessment is affected by the anticipation of future interaction has not been directly investigated. If the maintenance of equity in relationships is important, then the implication of future interaction with another may lead to a more careful consideration of current contributions to interaction. It was hypothesized that persons would be more accurate in their estimation of current rewards exchanged with another if future interaction with that other was anticipated than if interaction was expected to end. In the context of a dyadic bargaining situation, female subjects (N=79) either anticipated future interaction with the same partner, a different partner, or expected no future interaction. The findings supported the hypothesized effect. Subjects who anticipated future interaction with the same partner more accurately estimated current rewards exchanged than did either subjects who anticipated future interaction with a different partner or subjects who anticipated no future interaction. The findings suggest that accuracy in the assessment of contributions to interaction seems to be strongly affected by the anticipation of future interaction. (Author/JAC)