In an experiment studying the relationship between reciprocity and compensation in dyadic communication, 96 male college students were videotaped during hypothetical problem solving situations. An attitude scale was used to manipulate subjects' impressions of mutual similarity. Time was used to test development in the dependent variables confirmation, disconfirmation, and looking/mutual gaze behaviors. The results showed that verbal confirmation and disconfirmation were reciprocal; that verbal confirmation and gaze were slightly but positively and significantly related; and that reciprocity (on verbal confirmation) and compensation (on gaze) could be concurrent. The findings also revealed that dyads with similar attitudes did not confirm more than dyads with dissimilar attitudes; conversely, dyads with dissimilar attitudes did not disconfirm more than dyads with similar attitudes. Subject behavior in the dissimilar attitudes condition showed significantly more mutual gaze. In contrast with previous studies, gaze seemed to communicate challenge rather than liking. It was suggested that compensation be seen as agency and reciprocity as communion. (RL)