"I Love You, Man": Overt Expressions of Affection in Male-Male Interaction^

Despite the importance of affectionate communication for relational development and maintenance, individuals expressing affection incur a number of risks, including possible misinterpretation of the expressions as sexual overtures. These risks appear to be magnified in the male-male relationship, where overt expressions of affection may be all but prohibited by normative expectancies. The present study examines expectancies for appropriate male-male affection. Although empirical research stipports the idea that overt affection is considered less appropriate in male-male relationships than in relationships with women, it also suggests that three variables may moderate this expectancy: relationship type, emotional intensity of the context, and privacy level of the context. An experimental procedure with 140 men (approximately 95% Caucasian) confirmed the moderating effects of these variables.