Chapter 6: Intederpendency Flashcards
interdependency
exists when we need others and they need us to obtain valuable interpersonal rewards
assumption behind interdependency theories
we seek the most fulfilling relationships that are available to us
social exchange
the process by which people provide each other with benefits and rewards that the other wants
rewards
anything within an interaction that is desirable and welcome and that brings enjoyment or fulfillment to the recipient
costs
punishing, undesirable experiences
outcome
the net profit or loss a person encounters, all things considered
outcomes formula
Outcomes = rewards - costs
outcomes vs. expectations
Whether our outcomes are positive or negative isn’t as important as our expectations and perceptions.
comparison level
the value of outcomes that we’ve come to expect and believe we deserve in our dealings with others
what determines our comparison level?
our past experiences
interpreting CL
- If your outcomes fall above your CL, you’re happy
- If your outcomes fall below your CL, you’re unhappy
Comparison level for alternatives (CLalt)
he outcomes you’d receive by leaving your current relationship and moving to the best alternative partnership or situation you have available
CLalt determines
our dependence on our relationships (if we believe we’re doing as well as we possibly can, we depend on our partners and the greater the gap between our current outcomes and our poorer alternatives, the more dependent we are)
investments
the things one would lose if the relationship were to end
investments influence ____
how likely one is to stay in a relationship
what determines CLalt
what a person thinks it is
what is necessary for someone to influence your CLalt
you have to be aware of them
satisfaction vs. dependence
Satisfaction and dependence are correlated
dependence formula
Outcomes - CLalt = dependence or independence
4 types of relationships
- happy and stable
- unhappy but stable
- happy but unstable
- unhappy and unstable
happy and stable relationship
a person’s outcomes exceed their CL and CLalt, so they are content and unlikely to leave
unhappy but stable relationship
a person’s outcomes fall below their CLs, but are still higher than their CLalts, so they aren’t content but are unlikely to leave
happy but unstable relationship
a person’s CLalt is higher than their outcomes, but their CL is lower, so they’re satisfied but believe that they have more attractive outcomes somewhere else
unhappy and unstable relationship
a person’s outcomes are lower than both their CL and CLalt, so they are unsatisfied and likely to leave
CL and CLalt over time
- If your CL goes up and your outcomes remain, satisfaction wanes
- Once you get used to the perfect partner, you may derive less pleasure from their pampering over time
- Getting married increases happiness initially, but over time, people are only as happy, on average, as they had been before they got married
principle of lesser interest
the partner who depends less on a relationship has more power in that relationship
culture and CL and CLalt
- Cultural changes have increased our CLs and CLalts
- When CLs and CLalts are both high, people are more likely to find themselves in unhappy and unstable relationships
good vs. bad events in relationships
Undesirable events in close relationships are more noticeable and influential than logically equivalent desirable events
satisfaction ratio
To stay satisfied with a close relationship, we need to maintain a rewards-to-costs ratio of at least 5 to 1
satisfaction ratio study
classified couples as high- or low-risk for divorce based on behavioural codings of the couples discussing their last argument. They found that 4 years later, 56% of high-risk couples were divorced and only 24% of the low-risk couples were.
potential reasons for undesirable events being more noticeable in realtionships
- Romantic partners may not notice all of the loving and affectionate behaviours their lovers provide
- Partners may disagree about the meaning and value of the rewards they exchange
approach motivation
a motivation to gain desirable experiences
avoidance motivation
a motivation to avoid undesired experiences
approach vs. avoidance motivation
- Approach and avoidance motivations operate independently
- The status of any relationship can be defined by how well you are fulfilling both your approach and avoidance goals
Flourishing relationship
both approach and avoidance goals are fulfilled
Distressed relationship
neither approach nor avoidance goals are fulfilled