Equity Theory Flashcards
The role of equity: Most people have a need for equity in relationships
SET suggests that partners aim to maximise rewards and minimise the costs of a relationship
In contrast Walster et al. (1978) propose that equity is more important where both partners’ level of profit (rewards minus costs) should be roughly the same
The role of equity: Underbenefitting and overbenefitting can lead to dissatisfaction
The underbenefitting partner is likely to be the least satisified and their feelings may be evident in anger and resentment
The overbenefitting partner may feel less dissatisfied but is still likely to feel discomfort and shame
The role of equity: Equity is about the fairness of the ratios
It’s not the size or amount of the rewards and costs that matters - it’s the ratio of the two other
E.g. if one partner is disabled they may be able to do certain chores but compensate in other areas, so both partners feel a sense of fairness
Consequences of inequity: Sense of inequity impacts negatively on relationships
The greater the perceived inequity, the greater the dissatisfaction - equity theory predicts a strong positive correlation between the two
This applies to both the overbenefitted and underbenefitted partner
Consequences of inequity: Changes in equity occur during a relationship
At the start of a relationship it may feel perfectly natural to contribute more than you receive
If that situation carries on as the relationship develops (one person continues to put more in and get less out), then dissatisfaction will set in
Consequences of inequity: Dealing with inequity
The underbenefitted partner is motivated to make the relationship more equitable if the believe the relationship is salvageable. the greater the inequity the harder it is to restore equity
The change could be cognitive rather than behavioural. A dissatisfied partner might revise their perceptions of rewards and costs so the relationship feels more equitable even if nothing changes
What was once perceived as a cost (e.g. abuse) can become accepted as the norm for the relationship
AO3 + Support for equity theory
Utne et al. (1984) carried out a survey on 118 recently-married couples, measuring equity with two self-report scales. Couples were aged between 16-45 years and had been together for more than two years before marrying
Found that couples who considered their relationship equitable were more satisfied than those were over/underbenefitting
Confirms central prediction of equity theory, increasing it’s validity as an explanation of romantic relationships (more valid than SET)
( - self-report, subject to demand characteristics)
AO3 - Validity
Berg and McQuinn (1986) found that equity didn’t distinguish between relationships which ended and those that continued - other variables (e.g. self disclosure) were more important
Means that the validity of the theory is in doubt because the predictions of the theory are not supported by research
AO3 - Cultural influences
Equity theory assumes that the need for equity is a universal feature of romantic relationships across all cultures, because it’s a fundamental feature of human behaviour
Aumer-Ryan et al. (2007) found that there are cultural differences in the link between and satisfaction. Compared couples in a collectivist culture (the needs of the wider group are a higher priority) with those in an individualist culture (the of an individual needs are a higher priority)
Couples from an individualist culture considered their relationships to be most satisfying when the relationship was equitable
Couples in the collectivist culture found their relationship to be most satisfying when they were overbenefitting (true for both men and women)
Suggests that equity theory’s claim that equity is a universal need in relationships in unwarranted, therefore it is limited
AO3 - Individual differences
Not all partners in relationships are concerned with reaching equity
Huseman et al. (1987) suggests that some people are less sensitive to equity than others. They describe some partners as benevolents, who are prepared to contribute more to the relationship than they get out of it. Others are entitleds who believe they deserve to be overbenefited and accept it without feeling distressed or guilty
Shows that equity is not necessarily a global feature of all romantic relationships and is not a universal law of social interaction
AO3 - Cause and effect
Some research shows inequity may cause dissatisfaction (e.g. Utne et al.)
Other research shows dissatisfaction causes inequity. Dissatisfaction leads to noticing inequities, then more dissatisfaction - ‘cycle of misery’ (Grote and Clark 2001)
Inequity may be a cause and effect of dissatisfaction - equity theory is just a partial explanation of this process
