Clarifying and Extending Power-Control Theory

Abstract

This article responds to Jensen and Thompson's analysis of power control theory by placing the analysis within the context of Jensen's previous work and offering new findings from a wealthy Canadian community. This new analysis further contextualizes the theory by operationalizing, patriarchy in terms of a direct and parsimonious measure of marital power. Jensen and Thompson's analysis notwithstanding, the core of the power-control model performs well here and in serveral other data sets. Yet further specification of the model is needed in terms of both gender itself and of the family structures and power relationships that establish its scope.