equity theory Flashcards
define the equity theory
the idea people are most comfortable when what they put into a relationship is roughly equal to what they put in
outline the impact of inequity on a relationship
as an extension from the social exchange theory it suggests relationships which lack equity are associated with dissatisfaction.
individuals who are over-benefitted may feel pity, guilt or shame vs under benefitted who may feel anger, sadness and resentment
the greater the inequity the greater the dissatisfaction and the more motivated they are to do something about it
outline research into the timetable of equity and inequity in marriages
Shafer and Keith
- surveyed hundred of married couples of all ages noting who felt their marriages were inequitable due to unfair division of domestic responsibilities
- during child rearing stages martial dissatisfaction tended to dip with wives feeling under benefitted and husbands feeling over benefited
- during the honeymoon and empty nest periods satisfaction increased as equity felt restored
what did Hartfield and Rapson suggest happened to the importance of equity within a relationship over time
1) at the start of a relationship couples are concerned with reward and equity and it is important
2) as couples become deeply committed to each other they becomes less concerned with day to day reward and equity
outline how inequity is dealt with in a relationship
1) restoration of actual equity- individuals can restore it by voluntary setting things right or urging partners to do so
2) restoring psychological equity- couples in inequitable relationships can distort reality and convince themselves things are fine the way they are
3) if it is unable to be restored- individuals will leave the relationship either physically or emotionally
evaluate the equity theory
1) support from non-human studies- researchers found in a study using monkeys that the females would become angry if they were denied a reward of grapes in return for playing a game but other monkeys not playing received one. Later studies showed chimpanzees were more upset by inequity in casual relationships than intimate relationships which showed barley a ripple
2) issue and debate= cultural differences= the equity theory fails to consider how other cultures may differ. A study showed that the concept of equity is more important in western cultures than non-western cultures. They found men and women in collectivist cultures claimed to be most satisfied when they were over befitting form it, not when relationships were fair. This highlights a cultural bias as it fails to explain the development of relationships across a wider population.
3) opposed by the social exchange theory which suggest individuals are most comfortable in a relationship when their profits exceed their costs- this suggest individuals over benefitting from a relationship will be more content
4) research methods- use of animal studies
