**L7 - RUSBULT’S Investment Model

Question 1

what did RUSBULT develop?

Answer 1

RUSBULT developed SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY FURTHER by PROPOSING THE INVESTMENT MODEL

Question 2

what are the key factors in sustaining a relationship according to RUSBULT?

Answer 2

RUSBULT saw COMMITMENT as a KEY FACTOR in SUSTAINING A RELATIONSHIP - commitment DEPENDS on SATISFACTION, COMPARISON WITH ALTERNATIVES and INVESTMENT

Question 3

what is satisfaction determined by?

Answer 3

SATISFACTION is DETERMINED by AVAILABLE ALTERNATIVES, whereby BETTER ALTERNATIVES EQUALS LOWER SATISFACTION LEVELS

Question 4

what does investment do?

Answer 4

INVESTMENT acts as a DETERRENT to LEAVING A RELATIONSHIP, INTRINSIC INVESTMENT refers to RESOURCES PUT DIRECTLY INTO THE RELATIONSHIP (EMOTION, TIME, EFFORT) and EXTRINSIC INVESTMENT refers to RESOURCES ARISING OUT OF THE RELATIONSHIP (CHILDREN, FRIENDS, POSSESSIONS)

Question 5

how do these factors tie together

Answer 5

SATISFACTION, ALTERNATIVE POTENTIAL PARTNERS and INVESTMENTS all CONTRIBUTE to the OVERALL COMMITMENT LEVEL which will then DETERMINE THE INDIVIDUAL’S DECISION TO STAY IN OR LEAVE THE RELATIONSHIP

Question 6

+ VAN LANGE (EVALUATION OF RUSBULT’S INVESTMENT MODEL)

Answer 6

RESEARCH conducted by VAN LANGE supports RUSBULTS investment model. He studied STUDENTS from TAIWAN and the NETHERLANDS and found EVIDENCE that HIGH COMMITMENT LEVELS were related to HIGH SATISFACTION IN A RELATIONSHIP, this was ALSO RELATED TO LOW QUALITY OF ALTERNATIVES and HIGH INVESTMENT SIZE

Question 7

+ USEFUL FOR EXPLAINING INFIDELITY (EVALUATION OF RUSBULT’S INVESTMENT MODEL)

Answer 7

RUSBULT’S INVESTMENT MODEL is USEFUL for HELPING TO EXPLAIN INFIDELITY. This might occur if a person has LOW SATISFACTION in their relationship and there is a HIGH QUALITY OF ALTERNATIVE, both of these factors LESSEN THE COMMITMENT LEVELS and make the RELATIONSHIP LIKELY TO END

Question 8

+ ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS (EVALUATION OF RUSBULT’S INVESTMENT MODEL)

Answer 8

the investment model can also EXPLAIN WHY SOME PEOPLE STAY IN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS, the SATISFACTION IS LOW and the VICTIM SHOULD LEAVE however they might stay because there are LOW QUALITY OF ALTERNATIVES and the INVESTMENT in the current relationship is TO HIGH (CHILDREN MIGHT BE INVOLVED)

Question 9

+ APPLICATION QUESTIONNAIRE (EVALUATION OF RUSBULT’S INVESTMENT MODEL)

Answer 9

investment model has been APPLIED TO REAL LIFE RELATIONSHIPS to EXPLAIN THE FACTOR OF COMMITMENT. RUSBULT gave QUESTIONNAIRES to pps in HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS and found that ALL FACTORS of the model were FOUND TO BE IMPORTANT when looking at commitment

Question 10

• DIFFICULT TO MEASURE FACTORS (EVALUATION OF RUSBULT’S INVESTMENT MODEL)

Answer 10

investment model has been CRTICISED because its VERY DIFFICULT TO MEASURE THE FACTORS of COMMITMENT, SATISFACTION, INVESTMENT and QUALITY OF ALTERNATIVES. RUSBULT responded to this by constructing an INVESTMENT MODEL SCALE which could MEASURE EACH OF THE KEY VARIABLES IN A RELIABLE and VALID WAY.

This was done using SELF REPORTS though which brought about FURTHER PROBLEMS OF SOCIAL DESIRABILITY BIAS

Question 11

• LIN (EVALUATION OF RUSBULT’S INVESTMENT MODEL)

Answer 11

LIN CRITICISED INVESTMENT MODEL because it DOESN’T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT GENDER DIFFERENCES that MIGHT EXIST WITHIN RELATIONSHIPS.

LIN found that FEMALES tend to REPORT HIGHER SATISFACTION, POORER QUALITY OF ALTERNATIVES, GREATER INVESTMENT and STRONGER COMMITMENT IN RELATIONSHIPS COMPARED TO MALES