Relationships - 3. Theories of Romantic Relationships: 1. Social Exchange Theory Flashcards

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1
Q

Who developed the social exchange theory and when?

A

Thibault and Kelley in 1959

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2
Q

Shortened version of social exchange theory

A

SET

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3
Q

What type of theory is the social exchange theory?

A

An economic theory

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4
Q

Outline of the SET in terms of profits and losses

A

In romantic relationships, we want to maximise our profits (rewards from a relationship such as companionship and the feeling of being loved) while also minimising our losses (costs from a relationship such as time and stress)

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5
Q

What makes a relationship successful according to the SET?

A

Both parties are expected to give and take in equal proportions.
Rewards received from being in a relationship must outweigh the costs of being in that relationship

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6
Q

What is the opportunity cost involved in being a relationship?

A

This refers to the cost in terms of the lost alternative (E.g. not being able to spend time with family as you are committed to seeing your girlfriend that day)

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7
Q

2 ways to measure the profit in a relationship

A

Comparison level (CL
Comparison level alternative (CLalt)

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8
Q

What does CL refer to?

A

The rewards that you believe you deserve to gain from the relationship

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9
Q

What factors can impact our CL?

A

Our experiences of previous relationships, social norms and society in general

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10
Q

Example of past relationship experience impacting CL

A

If I got cheated on, my CL may be lowered as a may be happy being with someone who simply won’t cheat on me. This wouldn’t have happened unless I had my past experience.
Equally if I just left a really positive relationship, I would have a high CL

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11
Q

How may one base their CL on social norms?

A

They use social norms to shape their reasonable rewards that they expect to get. This is gained through reading books, watching films, watching TV programmes etc

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12
Q

How does the CL develop?

A

The more relationships we have, the more that the CL is developed

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13
Q

Person with a high CL and person with a low CL

A

Person with a low CL will be satisfied with gaining just a small profit (or even a loss) from a relationship
Person with a high CL will have higher self-esteem and believe they are worth a lot more and deserve lots

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14
Q

CLalt

A

Could we gain greater rewards and lesser costs from an alternative to this current relationship, such as starting a new relationship or becoming single?

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15
Q

When do alternatives become more appealing?

A

When the costs of the relationship outweigh the rewards

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16
Q

You’re only going to start questioning your current relationship when you become…

A

Dissatisfied

17
Q

4 stages of relationship development

A
  1. Sampling stage
  2. Bargaining stage
  3. Commitment stage
  4. Institutionalisation stage
18
Q

Sampling stage

A

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

19
Q

Bargaining stage

A

Romantic partners reach a compromise to ensure both individuals feel like they’re getting more rewards than costs from the relationship

20
Q

Commitment stage

A

The sources of costs and rewards become more predictable and the relationship becomes more stable. There’s always a proportion of time/energy given to the partner and it doesn’t need to be bargained/compromised anymore

21
Q

Institutionalisation stage

A

The partners are now settled down because the norms of the relationship, in terms of rewards and costs, are firmly establishedW

22
Q

Why do relationships breakdown according to the SET?

A

If there are few rewards to a relationship and a high number of attractive alternatives

23
Q

How did Hatfield question newlyweds to find support for the SET?

A

He questioned newlyweds about their level of contentment in their marriage and found that the happiest people were were those who felt that the marriage was equal for both partners in terms of costs and benefits

24
Q

Who carried out key research to support the SET?

A

Kurdek and Schmitt

25
Q

What did K and S investigate?

A

Investigated the importance of social exchange factors in determining relationship quality in 185 couples

26
Q

Couples involved in K and S’s study

A

Heterosexual and gay couples who were either married or cohabiting

27
Q

Method of K and S’s study into the SET?

A

Each couple completed a questionnaire without discussing their answers with each other

28
Q

Findings of K and S’s study into the SET

A

For every type of couple greater relationship satisfaction was associated with the perception of many benefits of the current relationships (CL) and seeing alternative as less attractive (CLalt)

29
Q

Limitations of the SET: assumption made

A

Assumes that people are inherently selfish in relationships by trying to maximise their rewards while minimising the costs

30
Q

Limitations of the SET: Equity Theory

A

Equity Theory states that people aren’t looking for a relationship in which they can over-benefit, but one in which the rewards for both parties are equal

31
Q

Limitations of the SET: quantification difficulty

A

It’s difficult to quantify/operationalise what ‘rewards’ and ‘costs’ are as they are subjective and unique to each person

32
Q

Limitations of the SET: research into the SET

A

Most of the research into it is artificial

33
Q

Limitations of the SET: culturally bias

A

Doesn’t explain relationships such as arranged marriages and relationships where the man has all of the decision making

34
Q

Limitations of the SET: other factors that may lead to relationships breaking down

A

Fails to mention other factors that may contribute to a breakdown (E.g. peer disapproval of the relationship)