PAPER 3 - RELATIONSHIPS - economic theories of romantic relationships

Question 1

what are the theories relating to romantic relationships?

Answer 1

• social exchange theory
• equity theory
• Rusbult’s investment model

Question 2

what are the key assumptions of social exchange theory?

Answer 2

• relationships are evaluated in terms of rewards, costs and profits
• our perception of profitability and out level of satisfaction are determines by out previous experience and possible alternatives
• stages of relationship development

Question 3

what are the stages of relationship development?

Answer 3

sampling stage: explore rewards and costs by experimenting them with out own relationship or observing others
bargaining stage: marks beginning of relationship when romantic partners start exchanging various costs and rewards
commitment stage: as time goes on, sources of costs and rewards become more predictable and relationship becomes more stable as rewards increase and costs lessen
institutionalisation stage: partners settles because norms of relationship are firmly established

Question 4

what is social exchange theory (not key assumptions)?

Answer 4

• relationships are evaluated in terms of rewards, costs and profits
• can be applied to both maintenance and break down of relationships
• assume both parties wish to maximise profit by minimising costs and maximising rewards
• rewards & costs are subjective
• suggests satisfaction and commitment to relationship is dependent on profitability of the relationship

Question 5

what affects satisfaction? (SET)

Answer 5

• comparison level
• comparison level of alternatives

Question 6

what is comparison level? (SET)

Answer 6

a standard against which all our relationships are judged
- is the product of out experiences in other relationships together with out general views of what we might expect from a relationship

Question 7

what is comparison level for alternatives? (SET)

Answer 7

expected potential rewards and costs associated with forming a relationship with a different partner

Question 8

how is research by Mills & Clark an evaluation point for social exchange theory?

Answer 8

• found some couples in high exchange orientation do evaluate their relationships in these terms but not all couples do (e.g. communal couples)

Question 9

how does research from Kurdeck and Schmitt support social exchange theory?

Answer 9

• broad application
• evidence supports importance of CL and CL Alt
• has population validity
• found that greater relationship satisfaction is associated with perception of benefits of current relationship (CL) and seeing alternatives to current relationship as less attractive (CL Alt)

Question 10

what are the other strengths of social exchange theory?

Answer 10

• explains maintenance of abusive relationships due to CL and CL Alt
• real world application - couples therapy

Question 11

what are the limitations of social exchange theory?

Answer 11

• not applicable to all couples - only to couples in high exchange orientation
• costs & rewards are subjective and difficult to classify & quantify
• fails to consider role of investment
• asssumes we continually evaulate but we only evaulate relationships after we become dissatisfied
• culture bias - overemphasis on costs, rewards & profitability reflects western, individualistic culture

Question 12

What is equity theory?

Answer 12

• Economic model of relationships based on idea of fairness for each partner
• individual assesses relations ship in terms of costs, rewards and investments (inputs)
• emphasises need for each partner to experience balance between their cost/effort and the benefit/reward

Question 13

How does equity theory emphasise fairness/balance? (EQUITY)

Answer 13

If relationships are balanced partners are likely to feel satisfied (equity can be defined differently by each member of the couple)

Question 14

What does perceived imbalance/lack of fairness lead to? (EQUITY)

Answer 14

• Dissatisfaction in the relationship
• the greater the imbalance,me more motivated the patter should be to put things right and whilst the ‘loser’ in the relationship feels there is a chance of restoring equity, they are motivated to save the relationship
• this means they will endeavour to re- establish equity

Question 15

What was the study by Stafford & Canary? (EQUITY)

Answer 15

• Asked sample of 200 married couples to complete measures of equity and relationship satisfaction
• Findings: satisfaction was highest for more that perceived their relationship to be equitable, followed by over-benefitted partners and lastly by under-benefitted partners

Question 16

How does the Stafford and Canary study support equity theory? (EQUITY)

Answer 16

• Large sample
• also directly questions SET as SET would predict over-benefited would be most satisfied, but it was the equitable relationships that had greatest satisfaction

Question 17

What was the research by Huseman? (EQUITY)

Answer 17

• Developed idea of equity sensitivity (reflects extent to which an individual will tolerate inequity)
• identified 3 categories of individuals: benevolents, equity sensitives and entitleds
• Benevolents: “gives”, tend to be more tolerant of under rewarded equity
• Equity sensitives: behave in accordance with equity merry, experiencing tension when faced with inequity
• Entitleds: Peter to be over rewarded

Question 18

What does research by Huseman suggest with regard to equity theory predicting levels of relationship satisfaction in all individuals? (EQUITY)

Answer 18

• Supports cavity teary but suggests it doesn’t account for individual differences (doesn’t apply equally for all individuals)
• doesn’t apply to “benevolents” or “entitleds”
• suggests people focus on equity in relationships to different extents

Question 19

What were the studies by DeMaris (2007 & 2010)?

Answer 19

• Suggested women appear more sensitive to inequity than men in romantic relationships
• eg. women were more disturbed by being under benefited than men, also women were more nicely to perceive themselves as more under benefitted and less over benefitted compared to men
• also carried out research assessing importance of equity using sample at 1500 American couples and found a woman’s sense of being under-benefitted was most important in predicting later relationship disruption

Question 20

What does research by DeMaris suggest with regard to the role of gender? (EQUITY)

Answer 20

• There are gender differences in perception and response to equity
• gender bias in application of theory (more applicable to females)

Question 21

What was said by Moghaddam? (EQUITY)

Answer 21

Argues that emphasis on exchange and equity is a reflection a highly individualistic, capitalist, work ethic values of north America

Question 22

How does Moghaddam’s view print make it important to consider culture in equity theory? (EQUITY)

Answer 22

• Based on western culture
• expected ed in some cultures mat parses de equitable
• some men in specific cultures have many wives (not applicable)

Question 23

what does investment model of relationships suggest?

Answer 23

suggests an individuals level of commitment to their romantic relationship is determined by:
- satisfaction of relationship
- quality of alternatives
- level of investment

Question 24

what is “satisfaction with the relationship”? (INVESTMENT)

Answer 24

• feeling that the relationship is rewarding
• satisfaction is dependent on outcomes of relationship
• outcomes are compared to personal standard of what constitutes acceptable outcomes

Question 25

what is “quality of alternatives”? (INVESTMENT)

Answer 25

• belief that relationship offers better rewards compared to alternatives
• dissatisfaction may lead to individual being tempted to explore alternatives away from current relationship (may be an individual but may be ‘no relationship’)

Question 26

what is “level of investment”? (INVESTMENT)

Answer 26

anything a person puts into a relationship that will be lost if they leave it
e.g. time, effort, shared possessions etc.

Question 27

what was the study by Impett? (INVESTMENT)

Answer 27

• sample of 3627 married couples
• found their satisfaction, investment and quality of alternatives predicted their commitment
• level of commitment assessed at initial testing stage predicted likelihood of marital breakdown/stability 18 months later

Question 28

how does Impett support investment theory?

Answer 28

• supports role of investment
• large sample
• ecological validity
• supports role of all 3 factors

Question 29

what was the study by Le & Agnew? (INVESTMENT)

Answer 29

• meta analysis of 52 studies conducted btween 1970-90s
  findings:
• satisfaction, alternatives to, and investment in a relationship were significantly correlated with commitment
• 3 variables together sccounted for nearly 66% of variance in relationships
• correlation between satisfaction and commitment was stronger than that for other 2 variables

Question 30

how does Le and Agnew support investment theory?

Answer 30

• supports role of investment - shows relationships rely on all 3 factors
• meta analysis so only correlational (no c & e)

Question 31

what was the study by Rusbult and Martz? (INVESTMENT)

Answer 31

• interviewed female survivors of domestic abuse
• found abused womens investment was high and alternatives were poor so were less likely to leave their partner

Question 32

how does Rusbult and Martz support investment theory?

Answer 32

• can be used to explain why people stay in abusive relationships to outsiders
• demonstrates subjective nature of the theory
• however only female sample

Question 33

how does Sprecher criticise investment theory?

Answer 33

• argues that investment does not directly predict commitment to a relationship
• found that satisfaction and alternatives were more important factors in determining commitment

Question 34

how does investment theory have culture bias?

Answer 34

• reflects western culture so may not be cross-culturally valid
• emphasises choice and temporary nature of relationships (western)
• other cultures may not be as accepting of break ups (e.g. based on religion/gender)