AO1 relationships

Question 1

summary of social exchange theory

Answer 1

• Thibault and Kelly
• economic theory, partners see the relationship similar to how a business operates
• cost benefit analysis (maximising rewards, minimising costs)
• min max principle
• rewards = self esteem, financial security
• costs = emotional instability, stress, loss of money

use of comparison level - comparing relationships to previous, other peoples, media relationships comparison with alternative

• looking at other potential partners and consider wether they would give higher profit, if so relationship will end

Question 2

summary of equity theory

Answer 2

• Hatfield model
• development on from social exchange
• including equality in the economic model - balance between rewards and costs for both partners
• under benefits and over benefits

Question 3

summary of investment theory

Answer 3

• development of social exchange theory
• consideration of how much has been invested into the relationship
• intrinsic - resources placed directly into the relationship
• extrinsic - resources outside the relationship which are now connected to the relationship (shared friends, material possessions)

Question 4

duck’s phase model

Answer 4

duck - three reasons for breakdown, pre - existing doom, individuals are not compatible from the start

intra - psychic stage - one/both considers problems and plans confrontation

dyadic stage - partners confront each other, and have conversation relating to inequity, intimacy and costs of breakup

social phase - telling social networks and take part in social activity in attempt to try and get over the relationship - picking sides (family and friends)

grave - dressing phase - partners create narrative of the breakup so they can save face, they blame the partner and reflect on how the breakup has affected their social network

Question 5

virtual relationships in social media summary

Answer 5

absence of gating mechanisms - removes filters e.g attractiveness, age group, speech defects

reduced cue theory - non verbal communication is missing which could lead to misinterpreting info e.g body language

anonymity - leads to deindividuation, lowering inhinbition, people say things online they wouldn’t say face to face, leads to closeness and intimacy but also sexting or trolling

hyperpersonal model - (Walther) people manipulate their online image, appearing hyper honest / dishonest. they do this by manipulating their online identity and carefully controlling interactions