Equity Theory Flashcards
Equity theory.
An economic theory of relationship development.
It acknowledges the impact of rewards and costs on relationship satisfaction, but criticises SET for ignoring the central role of equity - the perception that partners have about whether the distribution of rewards and costs in the relationship is fair.
Equity means…
‘Fairness’.
According to Walster and her colleagues (1978), what matters most with equity is that…
Both partners’ level of profit (rewards minus costs) is roughly the same.
This is not the same as equality where costs and rewards have to be the same for each partner.
When there is a lack of equity,…
Then one partner overbenefits and the other underbenefits from the relationship, and (according to equity theory) this is a recipe for dissatisfaction and unhappiness.
Both overbenefit and underbenefit are examples of inequity although…
It is the under benefitted partner who is likely to feel the greatest dissatisfaction, in the form of anger, hostility, resentment and humiliation.
The overbenefitted partner will likely feel guilt, discomfort and shame. Thus satisfaction is about perceived fairness.
The greater the perceived inequity,…
The greater the dissatisfaction - equity theory predicts a strong correlation between the two.
1st consequence of inequity.
Changes in perceived equity.
What makes us most dissatisfied is a change in the level of perceived equity as time goes on.
2nd consequence of equity.
Dealing with inequity.
The underbenefitted partner usually motivated to make the relationship more equitable as long as they believe it is possible to do so and that the relationship is salvageable. The more unfair the relationship feels, the harder they will work to restore equity.
Sometimes, they’ll revise their perceptions of rewards and costs so that the relationship feels more equitable to them, even if nothing changes. What was once seen as definitely a cost earlier in the relationship is now accepted as a norm.
Limitation: Not all partners in romantic relationships are concerned about achieving equity.
Huseman et al (1987) suggest that some people are less concerned about equity than the ‘norm’. They describe some partners as benevolent, who are prepared to contribute more to the relationship than they get out of it (underbenefit). Others are entitled who believe they deserve to overbenefit and accept it without feeling distressed or guilty. In both cases, such individuals have less concern about equity than the theory predicts.
This shows that a desire for equity varies from one individual to another and is not a universal feature of romantic relationships.
Limitation: Equity theory may not apply to all cultures.
Aumer-Ryan et al (2007) found that there are cultural differences in the link between equity and satisfaction in the link between equity and satisfaction. Couples from an individualist culture considered their relationship was equitable, whereas partners in a collectivist culture were most satisfied when they were overbenefitting. This was true of both men and women, so cannot be explained by gender differences.
This suggests that the theory is limited because it only applies to same cultures.
Strength: Evidence from real-world relationships confirm the equity theory as a more valid explanation than SET.
(Includes counterpoint).
For example, Utne et al (1984) carried out a survey of 118 recently-married couples, measuring equity with two self-report scales. The ppts were aged between 16 and 45 yrs and had been together for more than 2yrs before marrying. The researchers and that couples who were considered their relationship equitable were more satisfied than those who saw themselves as overbenefitting or underbenefitting.
This study confirms that equity is a major concern of romantic couples and is linked with satisfaction, a central prediction of equity theory.
Equity may be a feature of satisfaction in relationships (as predicted by equity theory) but Berg and McQuinn (1986) found that equity did not increase over time, as would also be predicted by the theory. Nor did the researchers find that relationships which ended and those which continued differed in terms of equity, a further prediction of equity theory; other variables (such as self-disclosure) were significantly more important.
This undermines the validity of equity theory because equity does not play the role in the relationship (dis)satisfaction that is predicted.
