L6 - Social Exchange Theory Flashcards
Describe the social exchange theory
Partners monitor the rewards, costs, and profit in a relationship and look for alternatives if the current relationship is unsatisfactory
People want
Maximum rewards
Minimum costs
Describe market place activity
Negotiating with the partner to get what we can to maximise success of the relationship
Aim to get more reward than partner to profit
People focus on what?
Cost-reward ratio
What are comparison levels (CL)?
Examining present relationship to see if rewards are more and costs are less than previous relationships
Successful if they are
What are comparison levels for alternatives (CL.alt)
Comparing the rewards and costs the present partner gives to the ones people in their social group, that they could form a relationship with, could give
CL.alt will be high if
High benefit to switching to new partner and low costs with leaving their current partner
+ related to successful vs. unsuccessful marriages
Research found reward to cost ratio of successful (5:1) and unsuccessful (1:1)
Suggests less profit and more costs determines satisfaction and success
- to behavioural
If based on operant conditioning, positive reinforcement through rewards, relationships with low/no rewards e.g. abusive wouldn’t continue but they do
- related to when the theory applies
People only start looking for alternatives when relationship becomes unsuccessful
Not when happy and satisfied
Procedure for research
Married hetero, cohabiting hetero, male female homo couples
Questionnaire
Results from research
Partners had no or low levels of CL.alt
Had more rewards from current relationship than previous
Same factors determined success for hetero/homo
- of research related to subjectivity
Rewards and costs are different to people
E.g. having a child
Needed to operationalise meanings
+ related of research to couples
Used heterosexual and homosexual couples
More population validity and can be generalised better to all romantic relationships
- related of research related to questionnaire
Social desirability bias, lying
Undermines validity
Should have used interviews
