Equity Theory Flashcards
AO1 and AO3
Who created ET and when?
Waltser, 1978
What does ET assume?
Both partners will have a similar level of cost vs benefits rather than focusing on just the benefits, unlike SET.
This balance may not be equal, but it should be perceived as equitable/fair.
What are the 4 principles of SET
- Profit
- Distribution
- Dissatisfaction
- Realignment
What is Profit?
At the start of a relationship, we seek profit to maximise benefits and minimise costs before establishing a more equitable distribution
What is Distribution?
The distribution of costs and benefits is negotiated to ensure equity (e.g one partner does all the cooking, one does all the cleaning)
What is Dissatisfaction?
Dissatisfaction is caused by an inequitable relationship. The partner who believes the relationship is unfair may seek realignment
What is Realignment?
If the partner experiencing inequity seeks realignment, they must work hard to change the behaviour of their behaviour or cognitions; they may change their perceptions of rewards and costs, so the relationship falls equitable. If not, the relationship may breakdown.
What’s a strength of ET?
There’s supporting research evidence from Stafford and Canary who found that participants who perceived their relationships to be equitable reported being the most satisfied and used the most positive maintenance strategies. This suggests that the fair distribution of costs in a relationship is likely to be used in the maintenance of a relationship, as the partners satisfaction depends on the equitable distribution of costs vs. benefits
What’s another strength of ET?
The concept of ET is culturally universal. Aumer-Ryan (2006) found that although the level of equity in relationships varies across the globe, in all cultures studies, people consider equity to play an important role in relationships. This means that ET can accurately explain relationships all around the world
What’s a limitation of ET?
Not all relationships become equitable over time, and ET cannot predict which relationship will last. Berg and McQuinn (1986) found that equity did not increase in couple with longitudinal study ad was not correlated with whether a relationship will last or not. Therefore, ET alone may not explain the maintenance of relationships.
