Relationship formation Flashcards
What’s the name of Thibaut and Kelley’s (1959) theory?
Social exchange theory.
What are the key points of social exchange theory?
When deciding on a potential partner we make a cost-benefit analysis.
People apply economic principles when evaluating relationships, either consciously or unconsciously, conducting cost-benefit analysis while also comparing alternatives.
Thibaut and Kelley assume that people try to maximise the rewards they obtain from a relationship and minimise the costs – the minimax principle.
What are the four stages of relationship development according to Thibaut and Kelley?
Sampling stage.
Bargaining stage.
Commitment stage.
Institutionalisation stage.
What does the sampling stage consist of?
Exploring rewards and costs of social exchange by experimenting with them in relationships (not just romantic) or by observing others doing so.
What does the bargaining stage consist of?
The beginning of the relationship, when romantic partners start exchanging various rewards and costs, negotiating and identifying what’s most profitable.
What does the commitment stage consist of?
Sources of costs and rewards become more predictable, relationship becomes more predictable and stable.
What does the institutionalisation stage consist of?
Partners are now settles down because the norms of the relationship, rewards and costs are now firmly established.
How the computer analogy be applied to social exchange theory?
Individuals observe behaviours, such as costs (input), weigh up the cost and benefits (process) and then make a decision on the relationship (output).
What’s the name of Dion et al’s (1972) theory?
Halo effect.
What does Dion et al (1972) suggest?
If our schema for an individual contains positive impressions, then we’re more likely to believe they have other positive characteristics as well.
The schemas we have for other people helps determine the likelihood of forming romantic relationships.
Individuals who were judged to be physically attractive were also judged to be more competent romantic partners, more successful in their careers and possess other positive attributes.
What is comparison level?
Amount of reward you expect to receive.
(Benefits – cost)
Based on your own concept of what to expect in a relationship and developed from experiences of previous relationships/
If someone has higher expectations, they may expect a greater degree of reward than the partner may be willing to give.
If someone has lower expectations, they may just settle with a minimum of rewards but also may be affected by manipulating and coercion.
How can social exchange theory be applied to comparison level?
Do we believe that we could gain greater rewards and fewer costs from another relationship or being on our own?
Social exchange theory predicts we will stay in our current relationship as long as we consider it to be more rewarding.
