equity theory

Question 1

Equity Theory – Walster (A01)

Answer 1

• Equity Theory assumes that people strive to achieve fairness in their relationships, and feel distressed if they perceive unfairness.
• Equity is NOT the same as equality. Be careful. What matters is that both partners’ level of profit (rewards minus costs) is roughly the same.
• People who contribute a great deal to their relationship and get little in return will perceive inequity in their relationship and will not want to maintain it. (You are getting loads out of this relationship but I am really not!)
• Both over-benefitting and under-benefitting are examples of inequity- but the partner who is under-benefitting is likely to initiate the relationship breakdown (because they would become unhappy).
• Equity will be defined differently by each partner and in different relationships.
• As long as the ‘loser’ feels there is a chance of restoring fairness and is motivated to save the relationship, he or she will try to re-establish equity, and the relationship may be saved.

Question 2

A03- Research Support

Answer 2

• Utne (1984) surveyed 118 married couples aged 16-45 (together for at least 2 years).
• Findings: strong positive correlation between the amount of equity each partner perceived and how happy they were. → the more equitable the relationship, the happier they were so the more likely they would stay together
• This directly supports the theory and its validity as an explanation of successful romantic relationships.

Question 3

AO3 - Cultural Bias in economic theories of relationships? (ISSUE)

Answer 3

• Moghaddam argues that equity is only relevant to the individualistic values of North America, where these theories of social relationships were developed.
• They cannot be applied to Eastern, more collectivist cultures where values can be vastly different from the West.
• Any attempt to apply this theory elsewhere is considered as IMPOSED ETIC and is a form of CULTURE BIAS.

Question 4

A03- Culture Continued

Answer 4

• These claims are further supported by Aumer-Ryan et al (2007) who found that individualistic couples did indeed report higher satisfaction when they perceived high equity…
  HOWEVER…
• The same was NOT found for collectivist couples- high satisfaction was reported for OVER-BENEFITTING, not equity!
• This further validates the claim that this theory CANNOT be applied nomothetically.

Question 5

A03- Individual Differences

Answer 5

• Huseman (1987) found that not all romantic partners are concerned with achieving equity.
• They describe some partners as “benevolents”- who are prepared to contribute more to the relationship than they get out of it, whereas “entitleds” deserve to be over-benefitted and accept their over-benefit with no guilt or perception of this being unjust.

Question 6

A03- Gender Differences Contd

Answer 6

• DeMaris (2010) found that there were gender differences in PERCEPTION of equity.
• Women have a tendency to view themselves as under-benefitting in comparison to men. Women are also more disturbed/likely to act on this.
• Sprecher (1992) found that women experience more guilt if they perceive they are over-benefitting.
• The authors explain this by suggesting that we are more aware of issues surrounding gender equality in modern marriage, and these perceptions may be a result of our heightened sensitivity.
• Women also tend to put their romantic relationships at the centre of their world, more so than men, therefore this would increase their sensitivity.