Psychology - Relationships - Theories of romantic relationships - Social exchange theory

Question 1

Who proposed the social exchange theory?

Answer 1

Thibault and Kelley (1959)

Question 2

What does social exchange theory assume?

Answer 2

That romantic partners act out of self interest in exchanging rewards and costs.

Question 3

According to SET, when is a satisfying and committed relationship maintained?

Answer 3

When rewards exceed costs and potential alternatives are less attractive than the current relationship

Question 4

What is SET based on?

Answer 4

economic assumptions of exchange where we minimise losses and maximise gains

Question 5

What do rewards in a relationship include?

Answer 5

Beneficial things like companionship, sex and emotional support

Question 6

What did Blau (1964) say about relationships?

Answer 6

Can be expensive, costing time, stress, energy and compromise. As well as this it costs opportunities

Question 7

Which two ways do we measure profit in a romantic relationship?

Answer 7

Comparison level and Comparison level for alternative

Question 8

Comparison level

Answer 8

amount of reward you believe you deserve, based on self esteem.

Question 9

What develops our comparison levels?

Answer 9

Experiences in previous relationships which feed into the expectations of our current ones.

Question 10

what is CL influenced by?

Answer 10

social norms within a culture what is widely considered to be a reasonable level of reward

Question 11

CLalt

Answer 11

comparison level for alternatives

Question 12

comparison level for alternatives

Answer 12

The second measure of profit providing a wider context for our current relationship. “could we gain more profit from another relationship with less costs and more rewards?”

Question 13

What does Social Exchange Theory predict about alternatives in relationships?

Answer 13

We will stay in our current relationship so long as we believe that it is more rewarding than alternatives

Question 14

How many stages does Thibault and Kelley’s Social Exchange Theory describe?

Answer 14

Four

Question 15

What are the four stages of Thibault and Kelley’s Social Exchange Theory?

Answer 15

Sampling stage, Bargaining stage, Commitment stage and Institutionalisation stage

Question 16

What is the first stage of Thibault and Kelley’s Social exchange theory?

Answer 16

Sampling stage

Question 17

Sampling stage

Answer 17

We explore the rewards and costs of social exchange by experimenting with them in our own relationships, or by observing others doing so.

Question 18

What is the second stage of Thibault and Kelley’s Social exchange theory?

Answer 18

Bargaining stage

Question 19

Bargaining stage

Answer 19

This marks the beginning of a relationship, when romantic partners start exchanging various rewards and costs, negotiating and identifying what is most profitable.

Question 20

What is the third stage of Thibault and Kelley’s Social exchange theory?

Answer 20

Commitment stage

Question 21

Commitment stage

Answer 21

As time goes on, the sources of costs and rewards become more predictable and the relationship becomes more stable as rewards increase and costs lessen.

Question 22

What is the fourth stage of Thibault and Kelley’s Social exchange theory?

Answer 22

Institutionalisation

Question 23

Institutionalisation stage

Answer 23

Partners now settled down because the rewards and costs in a relationship are firmly established.

Question 24

What are the strengths of Social Exchange Theory?

Answer 24

• Evidence to support it from Gottman (1992) - Applications to couples with problems from intergrated couples therapy (2000)

Question 25

What are the weaknesses of Social Exchange Theory?

Answer 25

• Challenged by Argyle and Duck - Blau argues that it’s about the cognitive approach rather than the behaviourist approach - Littlejohn (1989) found it difficult to define what a reward is - Moghaddam (1998) criticised it due to cultural applications - Criticised for the sample on students in short relationship

Question 26

What evidence did Gottman (1992) find to support Social Exchange Theory?

Answer 26

He found people in unsuccessful marriages report a lack of positive exchanges with their partner and an excess of negative ones. Successful marriages the ratio of positive to negative exchanges is 5:1 but in unsuccessful it’s 1:1. Shows importance of costs and rewards.

Question 27

How did Jacobson (2000) show Social Exchange Theory’s application?

Answer 27

Through integrated couples therapy, which helps partners break negative patterns of behaviour and decrease negative exchanges and increases positive exchanges. Practical use.

Question 28

Why does Argyle challenge Social Exchange Theory?

Answer 28

He disagrees with the idea that people spend a great deal of time monitoring relationships in terms of rewards and costs. People only monitor rewards and costs once the relationship becomes dissatisfying. Duck agrees with him.

Question 29

Why does Duck agree with Argyle challenging Social Exchange Theory?

Answer 29

States we only look at comparison levels in a relationship when we are dissatisfied not when we are happy and the relationship is successful.

Question 30

Why does Blau believe the cognitive approach explains social exchange theory Behaviourist approach?

Answer 30

He would argue humans are selfish to see relationships in this light. It is rooted in the behaviourist approach where the focus of the relationship maintenance is about rewards and operant conditioning. Some relationships have little rewards and still continue. So cognitive may explain it better.

Question 31

What did research by Littlejohn (1989) showed that it is difficult to define what a reward or cost is?

Answer 31

Rewards and costs in a relationship and this might differ from one person to another. A cost could be reviewed as a reward to another person (child). The theory needs to be closely examined how individuals view and think about rewards and costs.

Question 32

Why did Moghaddam (1998) criticise the social exchange theory?

Answer 32

It’s more applicable to western cultures and may be difficult to apply elsewhere. Perceived costs and rewards of relationships might be very different round the world from one culture to the next or may not be as important.

Question 33

Why was the sample of young people in short term relationships criticised in Social exchange theory?

Answer 33

Using a young and limited sample may make results invalid as we can’t apply the findings to long term older couples with a different dynamic