Investment model Flashcards
What is Rusbult’s Investment Model?
Rusbult’s Investment Model (2011) suggests that commitment is based on satisfaction, comparison with alternatives, and investment size.
How does investment impact commitment in relationships?
Greater investment (e.g., time, emotions, shared experiences) increases commitment, as breaking up would mean losing these investments.
What are the two types of investment in Rusbult’s model?
Intrinsic investments: Direct contributions like time and emotional work. Extrinsic investments: Shared resources like a house, friends, or memories.
What did Rusbult (1983) find about investment and commitment?
Increased investment led to greater commitment and a reduction in alternatives’ attractiveness, supporting the model.
What did Lee and Agnew (2003) find in their meta-analysis?
They found that satisfaction, alternatives, and investment were all strong predictors of commitment across different cultures and relationship types.
Why are self-report studies relevant to investment models?
Self-reports capture personal commitment levels, which are more meaningful than external observations in understanding relationships.
What is a real-world application of Rusbult’s Investment Model?
It helps explain why individuals remain in abusive relationships—high investment and lack of alternatives can override low satisfaction.
What did Rusbult (1995) find about women in abusive relationships?
Women in shelters often returned to their abusive partners due to high investment and lack of alternatives, supporting the model’s predictions.
What is a limitation of Rusbult’s Investment Model?
It struggles to explain why some people stay in low-investment, low-satisfaction relationships.
How does Rusbult’s model compare to Social Exchange Theory?
It builds on Social Exchange Theory by incorporating investment as a key factor, rather than just costs and rewards.
