Equity Theory. Flashcards
What is equity theory?
- Another economic theory which was developed in response to the significant criticism of the social exchange theory.
- Psychologists believe maximising rewards and minimising costs are important in relationships, however SET fails to take into account need that most people have for equity (fairness) in a relationship.
- This is the idea you can put a lot into a relationship and still be happy, as long as there is perceived fairness.
The role of equity - Walster (1978)
- Walster (1978) - equity in relationship doesn’t mean equality, instead it believes individuals are motivated to achieve fairness in relationships and feel dissatisfied with inequity.
- Definitions of equity within a relationship differ between individuals.
- When there’s a lack of equity, one partner over-benefits and the other under-benefits from the relationship, and this creates unhappiness and dissatisfaction.
- Over benefitting = guilt, discomfort, shame.
- Under benefitting = anger, hostility, resentment, humiliation.
Difference between equity and equality.
- According to equity theory, it’s not the size or amount of the rewards and costs that matters, it’s the ratio of the two to each other.
- e.g. a relationship where one person has a physical disability that prevents them from carrying out domestic chores or other physical activities - a precisely equal distribution of these chores/tasks won’t be seen as fair by either partner.
- Equity will come from the compensations/negotiations that the disabled partner could offer in other areas, or from the satisfactions the more active partner gains from their behaviour - rewards are fair, not equal.
Consequences of inequity:
- Problems arise when one partner puts a great deal into the relationships but gets little from it. A partner who is the subject of inequity will become distressed and dissatisfied with the relationship.
- The greater the perceived inequity, the greater the dissatisfaction; equity theory predicts a strong correlation between the two.
- This applies to both over-benefitted and under-benefitted partners to the extent they both perceive inequity.
Consequences of inequity: What is different about the beginning of the relationship?
- Changes in perceived equity: at the start of the relationship, it may feel more natural to contribute more than you receive. But if the relationship develops in such a way that you continue to put more into it than out, this will not feel as satisfying as it once did.
- Dealing with inequity: people will work on their relationships and attempt to restore equity for as long as they believe it’s possible to do so. In some cases, people cognitively revise their perceptions of rewards and costs so that the relationships feels more equitable, even if nothing changes. Can be a precursor as to how abuse becomes accepted as the ‘norm’ in some relationships.
Gender differences: Key study - Sprecher (1992).
- Procedure: Individual responses to a role-playing scenarios of inequity, examining how gender affects responses to inequity.
- Found women tend to be more disturbed when under benefitting from relationships and feel more guilt when they are over benefitting.
- This is because women are suggested to be more focused on their relationships, therefore are more sensitive to injustices.
- These results indicate there are clear gender differences between males and females and indicate the importance of conducting research into males and females separately, to avoid gender bias.
- However, this may result in an alpha bias and exaggerate differences between males and females that don’t actually exist.
Four principles of equity:
- Profit - rewards are maximised and costs are minimised.
- Distribution - trade-offs and compensations are negotiated to achieve fairness in a relationship.
- Dissatisfaction - the greater the degree of perceived unfairness, the greater the sense of dissatisfaction.
- Realignment - if restoring is possible, maintenance will continue, with attempts made to re-align equity.
Strength of equity theory - research support.
P: A strength of equity theory is that there is supporting evidence to suggest that it is more valid than SET.
E: Utne (1984) carried out a survey of 118 recently married couples and
measured equity with two self-report scales. The couples were aged
between 16-45 and has been together for more than two years before marrying. Couples who considered their relationship to be equitable
were more satisfied than those who saw themselves as over/under benefitting.
C: This research confirms a central prediction of equity theory, increasing its validity as an explanation of romantic relationships.
Limitation of equity theory - culture differences.
P: A limitation of equity is that it is assumed to be a feature of all relationships and has been applied universally.
E: Aumer-Ryan et al (2007) found that there are several cultural differences in the link between equity and satisfaction. It was found that collectivist cultures put the needs of other first (satisfied when over-benefitting), whilst in individualistic cultures an individual’s needs are prioritised (satisfied when
there is equity).
C: Suggesting that equity theory’s claim that equity is a universal need in relationships is unwarranted as it cannot account for cultural differences.
Limitation of equity theory - individual differences.
P: A further limitation is that research suggests that not all romantic relationships are concerned with achieving equity.
E: Huseman et al (1987) suggest that some people are less sensitive to equity than others. They describe some partners as benevolent
(compassionate) who are prepared to contribute more to the relationship than they get out of it. Others are entitleds who believe they deserve to be over benefitted and accept it without feeling guilty and distressed.
C: Suggesting equity is not a global feature of all romantic relationships, not a universal law.
