Investment Model

Question 1

2 strengths of investment model

Answer 1

1. Le and Agnew (2003) research

2. Abusive Relationships

Question 2

Le and Agnew (2003) research

Answer 2

One strength of the Investment Model is that it is supported by numerous research studies. For example, Le and Agnew (2003) found that satisfaction, comparison with alternatives and investment greatly contributed to commitment. This supports the model’s claims about the factors contributing to commitment and about commitment being the most promising feature in successful long-term relationships, and thereby increases the reliability of the model.

Question 3

Abusive relationships

Answer 3

The Investment Model provides a plausible explanation for why people stay in abusive relationships. According to the model, if a partner feels that the investment they made into relationships will be lost if they leave, they are more likely to stay in a relationship even when the costs are high (such as physical or emotional abuse) and rewards are few. Research into abusive relationships supports this idea.

For example, Rusbult and Maltz, in their study of ‘battered’ women, found that women were more likely to return to an abusive partner if they felt they had invested in the relationship and they didn’t have any appealing alternatives. This shows that the Investment Model can be applied to a wide range or relationships experiences that the SET and Equity Theory fail to explain, thus increasing the Investment Model’s application to everyday relationships.

Question 4

2 weaknesses of investment model

Answer 4

1. Correlational

2. Reductionist

Question 5

Correlational

Answer 5

The majority of research into the Investment Model is correlational, so psychologists are unable to conclude that investment causes commitment in relationships.

This limits the predictive validity of the model, as it would fail to predict which types of investment and how much investment will lead to long-term commitment to a relationship. Lack of predictive validity also makes the Investment Model less scientifically rigorous, as the ability to predict people’s behaviour, in this case, whether or not they will stay committed to the relationship, is one of the main goals of psychology as a science.

Question 6

Reductionist

Answer 6

Even though the importance of investment was clearly demonstrated by research, some psychologists think that Rusbult’s idea of relationship investment is oversimplified.

For example, Goodfriend and Agnew (2008) argue that it is not just things we bring to the relationships that could count as investment, but also a couple’s plans for their future. In their view, partners will be committed to staying in the relationships because they want to see these plans realised. This shows that investment in romantic relationships is a complex phenomenon, consisting of many different factors, which makes the Investment Model reductionist.