Equity theory

Question 1

Walster et al (1978)- central assumption

Answer 1

• people strive to achieve fairness in their relationship and feel distressed if they perceive infairness
• any kind of ineuqality has the potential to cause distress

Question 2

Kry assumptions of equity theory

Answer 2

• individuals try to maximise the rewards they receieve and minimise the costs
• there is negotiation ot produce fairness
• if the relationship is unfair or inequitable, it produces distress, especially in the disadvantaged person
• the disadvantaged person will try hard to make the relationship more equitable, particularly when it is very inequitable

Question 3

How can the balance be restored

Answer 3

• changing the amount we put into a relationship
• changing the amount we damand from a relationship
• changing our percentions of relative inputs and outputs
• compare our relationship to comparitive level to see it its worth continuing out investment in the current relationship or whether we should begin a new

Question 4

Research for equity theory- Feeney et al (1994)

Answer 4

• argus that equity is not as important in real life relationships as this theory suggests
• relationships in the modern world are more sophisticated and a simple cost/benefit analysis is too simplistic
• the research that has been conducted on this theory tends to be rather contrived and misses the sophistication of human relationships

Question 5

Research for equity theory- Argyle (1988)

Answer 5

there are sex differences in how we feel about unequal relationships

• over benfited men were almost as satisfied as those in equitable marriages
• over benefited women were more less satisfied than women in equal relationships

Question 6

Research for equity theory- Aumer Ryan et al (2007)

Answer 6

• research does not support the voew that equity is as important in all cultures, implying equity theory represents a culturally biased view of factors that are important in relationship satisfaction
• interviewed men and women at the University of Hawaii (individualist culture) and the University of the West Indies in Jamaica (collectivist culture)
• found a cultural difference in how men and women from these different cultures reacted to perceived inequalities in their relationships
• Hawaiian sample most satisfied when they perceievd themselves to be overbenefiting from their relationship
• Jamaican sample found equity was of less importance in determining relationship satisfaction