Maintenance

Question 1

Social Exchange Theory

Answer 1

Emphasises the effect of costs and rewards upon a relationship. The goal of the relationship is
to maximize rewards and minimize costs where the best possible outcome for a relationship is
sought.

Question 2

Thibaut and Kelley

Answer 2

outlined four stages in the development of long-term relationships based on
their model. Firstly in sampling, a variety of relationships are evaluated until one is selected,
secondly bargaining occurs with them identifying sources of profit and loss within that one
relationship. Thirdly commitment eventually comes about where the exchange of rewards becomes
predictable. Finally institutionalization, where interactions have been fully established.
Underlying the four stages, individuals have comparison levels where they consider previous and
other peoples relationships against their own as well as a comparison level for alternatives where
they compare their relationship with other possibilities

Question 3

Equity Theory (Walster)

Answer 3

Extending on social exchange theory, Walster developed equity theory of which there are four key
principles
1) Firstly individuals maximise rewards and minimise negative experiences
2) Couples negotiate distribution of rewards.
3) If relationship is inequitable, dissatisfaction is produced.
4) If the person losing out thinks there is an opportunity to restore fairness they may try to reestablish
equity, where the larger the feeling of inequity the more effort it is to realign.

Question 4

STUDY: Prins

Answer 4

showed that there are gender differences
related to how inequity is perceived. When
women perceive inequity they may have
extramarital affairs, though men didn’t express
the desire to have affair because of inequity.

Question 5

STUDY: Kahn

Answer 5

: men were found to view relationships as
being interactions in which what they get out of
it is what they put in, whereas women felt that
both individuals should receive equal regardless
of what they put in

Question 6

Disadvantages of equity theory

Answer 6

Cultural bias: individualist principles inherent with
Economic emphasis in couples striving for what is
most rewarding for themselves as individuals,
with collectivist cultures being ignored.

Reductionist: reduced down to trading of
needs and wants, stages of a relationship are
broken down. Ignores influence of emotions and
media.

Alpha bias: exaggerates differences in the ways
that males and females recognize relationship
maintenance, ignoring the commonalities

The studies supporting equity theory have
artificial means of analyzing relationships and
they are difficult to generalize from because they
lack ecological validity with their unrealistic
settings

Question 7

Feeney

Answer 7

found that the theory fails to consider
the variance in contexts in which relationships
occur in modern times.