**L6 - Equity theory Flashcards
what is equity theory?
EQUITY THEORY is an ECONOMIC MODEL of relationships based on the IDEA OF FAIRNESS for EACH PARTNER.
It EMPHASISES THE NEED for each partner to EXPERIENCE A BALANCE between their COSTS and REWARDS
how do people feel if the relationship becomes unfair?
DISTRESS will be felt if the RELATIONSHIP BECOMES UNFAIR, if people OVER BENEFIT and RECEIVE MORE REWARDS THAN THEY SHOULD they MIGHT FEEL GUILTY, and if someone UNDER BENEFITS and RECEIVES LESS REWARDS THAN THEY SHOULD they MIGHT FEEL ANGRY OR SAD
when is an imbalance of rewards acceptable?
an IMBALANCE OF REWARDS can be TOLERATED AS LONG AS BOTH INDIVIDUALS ACCEPT THE SITUATION, then the RELATIONSHIP WILL CONTINUE.
Eg: SOMEONE MIGHT LOSE THEIR JOB, and the PARTNER WILL BE UNDERSTANDING and TOLERATE THIS, DESPITE THE RELATIONSHIP BEING UNFAIR for A PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE OF THIS
what is equity
EQUITY DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN EQUALITY, it means FAIRNESS and EACH PERSON IN THE RELATIONSHIP MUST FEEL THAT IT IS FAIR.
An EQUITABLE RELATIONSHIP has a FAIR RATIO of REWARDS and COSTS FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL
+ DeMARIS (EVALUATION OF EQUITY THEORY)
DeMARIS STUDIED 1500 COUPLES and found that IF WOMEN WERE UNDER BENEFITTING TO A HIGH DEGREE then there was a HIGH RISK OF DIVORCE OCCURRING, therefore EQUITY and INEQUITY seem to be VERY IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN IN A RELATIONSHIP
+ BROSNAN (EVALUATION OF EQUITY THEORY)
BROSNAN found that FEMALE MONKEYS BECAME ANRGY if they were DENIED A PRIZE (GRAPES) for PLAYING A GAME WITH A RESEARCHER when they SAW ANOTHER MONKEY RECEIVING A PRIZE FOR NOT PLAYING THE GAME INSTEAD, the monkeys got SO ANGRY that they THREW FOOD AT THER RESEARCHER. The IDEA OF EQUITY is therefore ROOTED IN OUR ANCIENT ORIGINS
- CULTURAL BIAS (EVALUATION OF EQUITY THEORY)
EQUITY THEORY is MORE APPLICABLE to INDIVIDUALISTIC CULTURES than COLLECTIVIST ONES. In individualistic cultures PEOPLE MIGHT BE MORE CONCERNED with EQUAL REWARDS and COSTS however in COLLECTIVIST CULTURES, things like FAMILY VALUES and COMPATIBILITY might be MORE IMPORTANT WHEN MAINTAINING A RELATIONSHIP, RATHER THAN LOOKING AT REWARDS and COSTS.
In collectivist cultures, there are OTHER FACTORS THAT BECOME MORE IMPORTANT than the POTENTIAL REWARDS and COSTS of a RELATIONSHIP
- BUUNK (EVALUATION OF EQUITY THEORY)
BUUNK found NO LINK BETWEEN EQUITY IN A RELATIONSHIP and the FUTURE QUALITY and MAINTENANCE OF A RELATIONSHIP.
Therefore just because a RELATIONSHIP IS FAIR IN TERMS of its REWARDS AND COSTS, it DOESN’T MEAN THAT IT WILL DEFINITELY CONTINUE, people have FREE WILL TO CHOOSE WHETHER TO CONTINUE WITH A RELATIONSHIP or not and they MAY CHOOSE TO LEAVE IT IF THEY FEEL LIKE IT
For instance, what if someone experienced a DEPRESSIVE EPISODE in their life and they NO LONGER WANTED TO BE A PART of ANY RELATIONSHIP WITH ANYONE and just wanted to be ALONE. They would breakup with their partner but this would have NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY of the REWARDS AND COSTS OF THE RELATIONSHIP
- MILLS AND CLARK (EVALUATION OF EQUITY THEORY)
Research conducted by MILLS and CLARK CRITICISES EQUITY THEORY, they said that ITS NOT POSSIBLE TO ASSESS EQUITY in LOVING RELATIONSHIPS as MANY OF THE REWARDS and COSTS are EMOTIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL and CANNOT BE EASILY MEASURED, IF WE BEGIN TO MEASURE REWARDS and COSTS then it COULD DAMAGE THE LOVE IN THE RELATIONSHIP
