equity thoery

Question 1

what did Walster et al (1978) say?

Answer 1

the central assumption that people strive to achieve fairness in their relationship and feel distressed if they perceive unfairness (Messick and Cook 1983)

according to this theory any kind of inequity has the potential to create distress

Question 2

what are the key assumptions of this theory?

Answer 2

1. individuals try to maximise the rewards they receive and minimise costs
2. there is negotiation to produce fairness; e.g. one partner may do the shopping each week to compensate for playing sport twice a week
3. if the relationship is unfair or inequitable, it produces distress, especially in the disadvantaged person
4. the disadvantaged person will try hard to make the relationship more equitable, particularly when it is very inequitable

Question 3

how can you restore the balance?

Answer 3

1. change the amount we put into a relationship
2. change the amount we demand from a relationship
3. change our perceptions of relative inputs and outputs
4. compare our relationship to CL to see if its worth continuing our investment in the current relationship or whether we should begin anew

Question 4

what are the similarities between the SET and equity theory?

Answer 4

both look to maximise rewards and minimise costs

both use CL for judgement

both consider investment

Question 5

what are the differences between SET and equity theory?

Answer 5

equity works on relationship rather than giving up and moving on

SET - one-sided, equity who relationship

Question 6

what is the evaluation of the equity theory?

Answer 6

• considers both sides of the relationship and takes a more holistic approach considering the whole relationship
• considers investment
• Feeney (1994) - argues that equity is not as important in real-life relationships. Modern relationships are far too simplistic, simple cost/benefit analysis is too simplistic - research tends to be rather contrived and misses sophistication of relationships

-Larsson - wives compared husbands are more likely to feel distress as a result of perceived inequity in their relationships. Appears that inequity affects wives’ intimacy with their husbands more than it does husbands intimacy with their wives
Wives reported lower levels of compatibility when they perceived their relationships to be inequitable and as compatibility is a key factor in determining the success in marital relationships this has important implications for couples receiving marital therapy suggesting attempts to resolve compatibility issues are doomed to fail unless issues associated inequity or addressed first

• cultural differenes - uni of hawaii vs uni in jamaica - hawaiian sample most satisfied when realtionship was equitable vs jamaican sample most satisfied when they were overbenefitting from relationship. Both men and women in jamaican sample valued equity less important in determining relationship satisfcation suggesting the equity theory carries alpha bias
• stafford and canary - over 200 couples asked to complete measures of equity and marital satisfaction, satisfaction highest for those who perceived their relationship to be equitable and lowest for those who considered themselves underbenefitting - consistent with equity theory