Empirical Tests of Role, Complementary Needs, and Homogamy Theories of Marital Choice

Ninety-nine couples, either engaged or going steady, received a revised form of the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule taken under the sets Self, Ideal Self, Fiance(e), and Ideal Spouse. It was hypothesized that couples chose each other on the basis of role compatibility as seen by the respective members of the couples (inter-perceptions) and as viewed by one member alone (intra-perceptions); both hypotheses were supported. It was further hypothesized that role theory would account more cogently for marital choice than either a complementary needs or homogamy theory. This hypothesis was substantiated for intra-perception scores but not for interperception ones.