Assessing perceived patterns of behavior exchange in relationships

Development of an instrument to assess perceptions of behavior exchange patterns, using the schema described by McKenna, is discussed. The Behavior Exchange Inventory (BEI) contains 16 6-item scales, which assess giving, accepting, requesting, and withholding positive or negative reinforcers in either intimate or non-intimate relationship contexts. Also reported are two studies of the BEI's discriminant validity. Preliminary findings are encouraging in that they supported the cognitive conception of relationship distress and were consistent with research on couple attributional processes.