Investment Model: Evaluate

Question 1

Research support for the investment model:

Le et al (2010)

Answer 1

They supported the importance of commitment as an indicator of relationship stability

They analyse data from 38,000 participants to discover the key variables that predicted ‘staying or leaving’ behaviour

Findings: commitment was a strong indicator of whether a relationship would break up or stay together and the other variables were modest predictors

Question 2

Problems with measuring the variables in the model:

Rusbult (1998)

Answer 2

One problem is that it is difficult to measure commitment and the other variables that leads to commitment

R: developed the investment model scale to overcome this

However the scale relies on self-report measures which has issues regarding social desirability but it’s subjective nature means self report is necessary

Question 3

Real world application: explaining abusive relationships

Rusbult and Martz (1995)

Answer 3

The model is able to explain why individuals persist in abusive relationships

The models suggests that a lack of alternatives and having too much invested make dissolution too costly

R&M: revealed that alternatives and investments were strong indications of whether battered women remained committed to and returned to their partner

Question 4

Investment in the future is also important:

Goodfriend and Agnew (2008)

Answer 4

They suggest that investment should include not only current investments but also plans that partners have made regarding the relationship

Thus ending the relationship would lose the possibility of achievement any future plans

They suggest that Sumbu lations ships persist due to a motivation to see future plans come true