Hoofdstuk 9 Flashcards
What is the basic premise of Social Exchange Theory?
he Social Exchange Theory is based on the notion that people think about relationships in economic terms, tallying up costs and rewards.
How is the worth of a relationship determined in Social Exchange Theory?
The worth of a relationship is determined by subtracting costs from rewards. Positive relationships have a positive worth, while negative relationships have a negative worth.
What are the four main assumptions of Social Exchange Theory?
The assumptions are:
1. humans seek rewards and avoid punishments, 2. humans are rational beings,
3. standards for evaluating costs and rewards vary,
4. and relationships are interdependent and ever-changing.
How does Social Exchange Theory explain the evaluation of a relationship?
Evaluation rests on two comparisons: Comparison level (CL) representing what rewards and costs people expect from a relationship, and Comparison level for alternatives (CLalt), the lowest level of rewards a person is willing to accept considering alternatives.
What is the role of power in Social Exchange Theory?
Power relates to the dependence a person has on another for outcomes. It influences exchange patterns and behaviors within a relationship.
What are the three matrices in Social Exchange Theory?
They are the given matrix (external and internal factors), effective matrix (expansion of alternatives), and dispositional matrix (belief about how rewards ought to be exchanged).
What are the three forms of exchanges in Social Exchange Theory?
They are direct exchange (between two actors), generalized exchange (involving direct reciprocity within a community), and productive exchange (both parties incur benefits and costs simultaneously).
What are some critiques of Social Exchange Theory?
Critiques include its lack of testability due to undefined costs and rewards, its limited utility due to oversimplified view of humans, and narrow scope by overlooking group dynamics and interdependence.
Despite its critiques, in which area is Social Exchange Theory considered successful?
Despite critiques, it’s considered heuristic as it continues to stimulate research and generate new findings in the field of interpersonal communication.
