Lesson 6 - The Social Exchange Theory

Question 1

social exchange theory

Answer 1

• economic theory
• based on the idea that relationships are ‘like a business’
• monitor rewards, costs + profit
• we all want max rewards + min costs
• relationships are expensive = invest time, energy = gain rewards for it relationship to be successful
• aim for both parties to have high rewards + low costs

Question 2

relationship between rewards + costs

Answer 2

rewards - costs = positive outcome = successful relationship

Question 3

comparison levels

Answer 3

• a reference level we have to examine our present relationship to previous relationships we have had
• compare them in terms of rewards + costs
• present relationship should have higher rewards + less costs than previous relationships

Question 4

comparison levels for alternatives

Answer 4

• a person will compare their present partner w/ people around them who they could have a potential relationship with
• if individual feels that present partner offers high rewards + low costs = present relationship successful
• opposite, leave current partner = CL.alt = high

Question 5

ad of social exchange theory

Answer 5

• found evidence to support social exchange theory
• found that individuals in unsuccessful marriages, frequently report a lack of positive behaviour exchanges w/ partner + excess of negative exchanges
• successful happy marriages = ratio of +ve : -ve exchanges, 5:1
• unsuccessful marriage = ratio: 1:1
• integrated couples therapy helps partners to break negative patterns of behaviours + increase positive exchanges

Question 6

disads of social exchange theory

Answer 6

• dissatisfied
• cultural bias
• limited sample
• operationalise

Question 7

dissatisfied - disads of social exchange theory

Answer 7

• psych challenged the social exchange theory
• disagrees w/ the idea that people spend a great deal of time monitoring their relationship in terms of rewards + costs
• states that people only monitor rewards + costs once the relationship becomes dissatisfying

Question 8

cultural bias - disads of social exchange theory

Answer 8

• theory is more applicable to western, individualistic cultures
  = difficult to apply to eastern cultures
• the perceived costs + rewards of relationships might vary from one culture to another
• e.g. in some cultures, where a basic lifestyle is acceptable such as in some parts of Africa
  = sufficient to be in a relationship w/ a partner who help provide enough food + shelter
• rewards + costs might not be so important for a romantic relationship
• instead family values + compatibility might be more important in collectivist cultures = help relationship be successful

Question 9

limited sample - disads of social exchange theory

Answer 9

• most of the research was focused on students in short term relationships
• using limited sample of parts = young, means that results may be invalid + not strong evidence
• might not be able to successfully apply the research findings to long term committed older couples = different relationship dynamic

Question 10

operationalise rewards - disads of research on social exchange theory

Answer 10

• criticised in terms of how rewards might be measured in a relationship
• The term “reward” might need to be operationalised
  = in order to be fully valid
• Psychologists have argued that it might be difficult to compare one reward to another,
• some rewards in a relationship might carry more value than others, e.g. the reward of “financially
  supporting me” would carry a higher value than “doing housework” for some people in a relationship.
• Maybe Kurdek should have investigated the QUALITY of the rewards rather than the QUANTITY of rewards gained in a relationship
  = in order to add some more validity to the results in relation to social exchange theory