Maintenance

Question 1

What are theories relating to the maintenance of relationships also known as?

Answer 1

Economic theories

Question 2

What are economic theories of the maintenance of relationships?

Answer 2

They are based on principles of operant conditioning which suggest we form and maintain relationships as they are rewarding

Question 3

Who came up with the social exchange theory?

Answer 3

Thibaut & Kelley (1959)

Question 4

Outline social exchange theory

Answer 4

Relationships provide rewards and costs and we try to maximise rewards and minimise costs as the outcome is the rewards minus the costs, which is what satisfaction depends on - comparison level

Question 5

Name the 2 theories for the maintenance of relationships

Answer 5

1) Social exchange theory

2) Equity theory

Question 6

Name 2 rewards and 2 costs of relationships

Answer 6

1) Affection and emotional support

2) Providing support and time

Question 7

According to the social exchange theory, what 2 things help to determine how satisfied individuals are and ultimately whether the relationship will continue?

Answer 7

1) The comparison level

2) The comparison level for alternatives

Question 8

What is the comparison level?

Answer 8

The standard against which all our relationships are judged - represents the outcomes they believe they deserve on the basis of past experiences

Question 9

What is the comparison level for alternatives?

Answer 9

The rewards and costs involved if they form a relationship with someone else

Question 10

Name 2 research studies which support the social exchange theory

Answer 10

1) Rusbult & Martz (1995)

2) Simpson (1990)

Question 11

Outline Rusbult & Martz (1995)

Answer 11

Used the social exchange theory to explain abusive relationships - if investments are high (like children and financial security) and alternatives are low (like nowhere to live and no money) - this is still a profit situation and thus women will often stay with an abusive partner

Question 12

Outline Simpson (1990)

Answer 12

Suggested a way of dealing with the threat of potential alternatives is to reduce them as a means of protecting the relationship - asked ppts to rate members of the opposite sex in terms of attractiveness and found those in relationships gave lower ratings which provides support for the existence of a comparison level

Question 13

Name 7 negative evaluative points about the social exchange theory

Answer 13

1) Does not explain why people leave relationships despite having no alternative
2) Assumes we spend a considerable amount of time monitoring relationships - Argyle & Duck
3) Moghaddam (1998)
4) Reductionist
5) Fails to take account of fairness in relationships leading to equity
6) Oversimplified
7) Selfish nature of theory

Question 14

Outline Argyle & Duck

Answer 14

Stated and found they only consider alternatives once they’re dissatisfied with their own one

Question 15

Outline Moghaddam (1998)

Answer 15

‘Economic’ theories only apply to short term, high mobility, Western relationships (for example uni students) so the model loses validity

Question 16

Explain how the social exchange theory is reductionist

Answer 16

It breaks relationships down into a number of basic social interactions that are focused on the hedonistic or selfish rewards of a single individual

Question 17

Explain why the selfish nature of the social exchange theory is a negative

Answer 17

It suggests that we are only motivated to maintain relationships out of hedonistic concerns, it is possible that such principles only apply in individualistic cultures

Question 18

Who put the equity theory for the maintenance of relationships forward?

Answer 18

Walster (1978)

Question 19

Outline the equity theory

Answer 19

It is an extension of social exchange theory - there is a relationships if what they gain reflects what they give to it (equity)

Question 20

In what condition does inequity occur according to the equity theory and what is the result?

Answer 20

If they give a great deal but receive very little - causes inequity and thus dissatisfaction

Question 21

What is an equitable relationship?

Answer 21

Partner 1’s benefits-costs = Partner 2’s benefits-costs

Question 22

Name 4 research studies associated with the equity theory

Answer 22

1) Van Yperen (1990)
2) Dwyer (2000)
3) De Maris (2007)
4) Clark & Mills (1979)

Question 23

Outline Van Yperen (1990)

Answer 23

Longitudinal study with 259 couples - 86% married - found 3 main groups of people:
1) 65% men and women felt equity
2) 25% men felt over-benefited
3) 25% women felt under-benefited
1 year later asked about their satisfaction from the relationship and found group 1 were the most satisfied and group 3 were the least satisfied

Question 24

Outline Dwyer (2000)

Answer 24

Found lesbians put considerable value on equity giving support for women being more concerned about it

Question 25

Outline De Maris (2007)

Answer 25

Investigated marital equity in 1500 couples and found the only significant aspect was the women’s sense of being under-benefited with greater under-benefit raising the risk of divorce

Question 26

Outline Clark & Mills (1979)

Answer 26

Stated relationships are not based on economics - there is a difference between exchange relationships (colleagues at work) and communal relationships (friends and lovers), in exchange relationships we make assessments of the rewards and costs of that relationship but communal relationships are about responding to needs - partners tend to be more long term

Question 27

Name 5 general negative evaluative points for the maintenance of relationships

Answer 27

1) Gender differences
2) Cultural bias
3) Assumes people are self-centred whereas many relationships are not based on this principle
4) Does not account for change over time
5) Based on research of artificial experiments so may not reflect real-life relationships

Question 28

Explain gender differences in theories regarding the maintenance of relationships

Answer 28

Research suggests that men and women might judge the equity of relationships differently

Question 29

Which study supports the existence of gender differences in theories regarding the maintenance of relationships?

Answer 29

Steil & Weltamn (1991)

Question 30

Outline Steil & Weltamn (1991)

Answer 30

Found that in married couples, in cases where the husbands earned more then they and their wives rate their careers as more important, but when the wives earned more, neither partner rates the career as more important - wives tendency to seek less for themselves than comparable men making comparable contributions hindered the achievement of equality at home

Question 31

Explain how the theories relating to the maintenance of relationships are culturally biased

Answer 31

These principles apply more to individualistic than collectivist cultures due to the focus on the individual’s gain

Question 32

Name and explain one positive point about the theories relating to the maintenance of relationships

Answer 32

Real-world application - unsuccessful mariages frequently report a lack of positive behaviour exchanges with partner and an excess of negative exchanges - Gottman & Levenson (1992) found successful marriages had a ratio of positive to negative exchanges around 5:1, whereas in unsuccessful marriages this was lowered to about 1:1 or less - so the goal of relationship therapy is to increase the proportion of positive exchanges and reduce the proportion of negative exchanges - Christensen (2004) treated over 60 distressed couples using therapy and found 2/3 reported significant improvements in the quality of their relationship

Question 33

Outline Gottman & Levenson (1992)

Answer 33

Found successful marriages had a ratio of positive to negative exchanges around 5:1, whereas in unsuccessful marriages this was lowered to about 1:1 or less

Question 34

Outline Christensen (2004)

Answer 34

Treated over 60 distressed couples using therapy and found 2/3 reported significant improvements in the quality of their relationship

Question 35

Explain how the theories relating to the maintenance to relationships do not account for change over time

Answer 35

Equity is more important at the beginning of a relationship so there is limited value in explaining maintenance and dissolution