MARKETPLACE ECONOMY - THE EVALUATION OF INTERRACIAL COUPLES

G. Elder's (1969) marketplace theory and Porterfield's (1978) concept of status incongruity were tested as possible explanations for the perceptions of and behavioral propensities toward a Black male-White female couple in a 2 (Sex of Subject) x 2 (Race of Male) x 2 (Status of Male) x 2 (Attractiveness of Female) design. Results obtained showed somewhat greater support for the marketplace concept than for the status incongruity concept. While evaluations of the interracial couple were negative overall, Race x Attractiveness interactions obtained allow one to infer that the couple was evaluated based on the perceived equity of the exchange of these variables. The Black male-unattractive White female couple received the best evaluation. By inference, this couple was perceived as an equitable exchange of assets.