equity theory - relationships Flashcards
equity theory
claims that people are most comfortable when what they get out of a relationship is roughly equal to what they put in to it
the greater the equity…
the greater the dissatisfaction and stress
Schafer and Keith 1980
surveyed hundreds of married couples of all ages
noticing those who felt there marriages were inequitable due to unfair decision of domestic responsibilities
-during child rearing years wives reported feeling under benefited
- during empty- nest stages husbands and wives more likely to perceive equity and feel satisfied with their marriages
Hatfield and Rapson 2011
suggest that how couples are concerned with reward and equity depends upon the stage of their relationship
Stafford and Canary 2006 aim
interested in how equity and satisfaction predicted the use of maintenance strategies typically used in marriage
Stafford and Canary 2006 procedure
two hundred married couples completed measure of equity and relationship satisfaction. each partner was asked questions about their use of relationship maintenance strategies
Stafford and canary 2006 findings
satisfaction was highest for partners who saw their relationships as equitable
under benefited husbands reported lower levels of relationships maintenance strategies
cultural differences
not as important in non western cultures
US claimed to have most equitable relationships
Aumer Ryan found that in all cultures considered it important that a relationship is equitable
gender differences
women see themselves as more under benefited in relationships compared to men
women feel more guilt than men in response to being over benefited
= from women having greater relationship focus
supporting evidence for the study of non-human primates
evidence from animal studies
Brosnan and de waal- found that female monkeys became very angry if they were denied a reward of grapes in return for playing a game - rewards important in relationships
