Are men more dependent or more powerful than women?

Sandra L. Murray; Gabriela S. Pascuzzi

doi:10.1017/S0140525X25102343

Are men more dependent or more powerful than women?

Sandra L. Murray
, Gabriela S. Pascuzzi

Psychology

SUNY Buffalo

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Dependence varies with the balance of power between romantic partners, such that the partner who invests less holds greater power than the partner who invests more. Women’s tendency to invest more emotionally, cognitively, and behaviorally in romantic relationships puts men in a position of greater power. Men’s over-benefited or advantaged status makes them less dependent on romantic partners, not more.

Original language	English
Article number	e116
Journal	Behavioral and Brain Sciences
Volume	49
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X25102343
State	Published - Jun 1 2026

Access to Document

10.1017/S0140525X25102343

Cite this

@article{7751ab4980db4f17aee2990b9728c705,

title = "Are men more dependent or more powerful than women?",

abstract = "Dependence varies with the balance of power between romantic partners, such that the partner who invests less holds greater power than the partner who invests more. Women{\textquoteright}s tendency to invest more emotionally, cognitively, and behaviorally in romantic relationships puts men in a position of greater power. Men{\textquoteright}s over-benefited or advantaged status makes them less dependent on romantic partners, not more.",

author = "Murray, \{Sandra L.\} and Pascuzzi, \{Gabriela S.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press.",

year = "2026",

month = jun,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1017/S0140525X25102343",

language = "English",

volume = "49",

journal = "Behavioral and Brain Sciences",