Dual Exchange Theory, Social Networks, and Informal Social Support

Recent developments in the field of social exchange may prove very useful to social support researchers as they begin to analyze the relationships between social structure, interaction, and perceptions of "support" in the event of crisis or need. Particularly promising here is "dual exchange theory," as represented in Ekeh's elaboration of Levi-Strauss's conception of elementary exchange. Using data from a small-scale ethnographic study of social network mobilization among low-income black women in the event of job loss, this paper investigates two tenets of dual exchange theory: (1) informal support exchanges in natural settings take the form of "generalized" and "restricted" exchange, and (2) generalized exchange systems are associated with greater degrees of solidarity and social support. The data support the dual exchange thesis, with some modification of Ekeh's dichotomized conceptualization of exchange. The Study reinforces the utility of network analysis and exchange concepts in the analysis of social support.