maintenance of relationships

Question 1

Social Exchange Theory

Answer 1

Thibaut and Kelly (1959)
MinMax - Happy in relationship when Profits outweigh losses/sad when opposite.

Question 2

CBA

Answer 2

Cost Benefit Analysis

Question 3

Comparison levels

Answer 3

Experiences - Memories of past
Ideas - what we want and can expect
Alternatives - Key for maintenance of any relationships

Question 4

Process of SET

Answer 4

Sampling - LLLL/P
Bargaining - L/P
Commitment - P/L
Institutionalisation - PPPP/L

Question 5

AO3 of SET

Answer 5

S - Supporting research (Sprecher 2001)
- real life application
W - Research into SET lacks mundane realism
- concepts are very difficult to define
- assumes partners keep a tally

Question 6

Equity theory

Answer 6

being equal in a relationship is vital for maintenence. it is the perception of equity that is more important than profit or loss.

Question 7

Rusbult’s Investment Model

Answer 7

Questionnaire that focused on satisfaction, comparison of alternatives and investment. Those who reported greater satisfaction, also reported greater prior investment into the relationship.

Question 8

Rusbult’s investment definition

Answer 8

Investments are anything that people put into a relationship that will be lost if they leave.

Question 9

AO3 of Investment model

Answer 9

S - Supporting research - Le and Agnew (2003)
- Application to everyday life
- provides explanation for why people stay in abusive relationships
W - questionnaires and interviews are subjective and unreliable