A test of equity theory in multidimensional friendships: A comparison of the United States and Korea

Equity Theory was tested in the context of multidimensional friendships in the United States and Korea. Findings showed that people in underreward situations were more likely than those in overreward situations to ask their partners to change their behaviors and to decrease their liking for the partner, whereas those in overreward situations were more likely than those in underreward situations to change their own behavior. Anger was positively related to asking one's partner to change, changing one's own behavior, and lower liking in an inequitable situation. A positive relationship between anger and decrease in liking was only apparent for Americans in the underreward situation. These findings are largely consistent with Equity Theory and may provide an extension of the theory upon further investigation.