equity theory Flashcards
The equity theory
Developed in the 1970s by Hatfield et al, it claims that people are most comfortable when what they get out of the relationship (the benefits) is roughly equal to what they put in (the costs).
Comparison to SET
It is another economic theory which developed in response to a significant criticism of the SET. SET fails to consider maximising of rewards and minimising costs.
What does an equitable relationship look like?
One partner’s benefits minus their costs equals their partner’s benefits less their costs.
The distinct types of dissatisfaction
If people feel over-benefited, they may experience pity, guilt and shame. If under benefitted, they may experience anger, sadness and resentment.
The greater the inequity, the greater the dissatisfaction and stress, and the more motivated they are to do something about it.
Equity and inequity in marriages
Hatfield and Rapson 2011 suggest that how couples are concerned with reward and equity depends on the stage of their relationship.
Initial stages= reward, fairness and equity are important.
Deeply committed= less concerned about day-to-day reward and equity.
Happily married people tend not to keep sore of how much they are giving and getting.
Key study procedure
Stafford and Canary 2006. Asked 200+ married couples to complete measures of equity and relationship satisfaction. Also, use of relationship maintenance strategies.
Key study findings
Satisfaction was highest for spouses who perceived their relationships to be equitable, followed by over benefitted partners and then under benefitted partners.
Spouses who were treated equitably tended to be happier and so were more likely to engage in behaviours that contributed to their spouse’s sense of equity and happiness.
In dealing with inequity, what do Hatfield and Rapson 2011 suggest
Can be achieved in 3 different ways:
- Restoration of actual equity; voluntarily setting things right.
- Restoration of psychological equity; distort reality and convince themselves that things are perfectly fine.
- If couples are unable to restore equity in their relationship, they can leave it; can be physically or emotionally.
Evaluation points for the equity theory
Cross cultural research.
Supporting evidence from the study of non-human primates.
Cross cultural research
Yum et al 2009 looked at different types of heterosexual relationships across six different cultures.
Over benefitting and under benefitting in relationships and so can be applied cross culturally; high external validity.
Supporting evidence from the study of non-human primates.
In a study with capuchin monkeys, Brosnan and de Waal found that female capuchin monkeys became very angry if they were denied a highly prized reward of grapes in return for playing a game. If another monkey received the grapes instead, the capuchins grew so angry that they hurled food at the experimenter.
The study echoes what researchers have found in human relationships and suggest that the perception of inequity has ancient origins.
