Relationships booklet 3: Theories of relationships Flashcards by George Hargreaves

What are the 4 theories of romantic relationships?

Social Exchange Theory (SET)
Equity Theory
Rusbult’s Investment Model
Duck’s Phase Model

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3 theories are on relationship formation and maintenance, 1 is on relationship breakdown… which is on breakdown?

Duck’s phase model

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What are the different sections of AO1 SET?

-SET
-Stages of relationship development
-Comparison Level (CL)
-Comparison Level for Alternative (CLalt)

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Explain SET (Social Exchange Theory)…

-Created by Thibault and Kelley, it’s an economic theory that states that we form a relationship that is rewarding to us. We also attempt to maximise rewards and minimise our costs.
-Rewards minus costs is the outcome

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When do we maintain a relationship according to SET?

When it is profitable

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What constitutes a reward and cost according to SET?

It’s subjective, one person might consider something to be a reward that another doesn’t

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What are some examples of rewards in SET?

-Financial support
-Attention
-Comfort

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What are some examples of costs in SET?

-Time
-Money
-Arguments/tensions

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Explain the four stages of relationship development…

Sampling - Consider potential rewards and costs of a relationship
Bargaining - Give and receive rewards to test whether deeper relationship possible
Commitment - Relationship more predictable, each know how to elicit rewards from other
Institutionalisation - Relationship norms developed, establishing patterns of rewards and costs

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Explain Comparison level (CL)…

One way that they check the profit in a relationship, relationship is maintained if potential profit exceeds our comparison level

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What different things could comparison level be affected by?

-Self esteem
-Role models
-Tv/media

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Explain CLalt…

When we weigh up the potential increase in rewards from an alternative partner against any costs associated with ending the current relationship
-If quality of alternative higher, don’t maintain current relation

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What are the evaluations of SET?

😀Explains all types of romantic relationships, including the abusive ones and homosexuals
😀Evidence to support (Simpson)
😢Lacks ecological validity (relationship based on feelings and emotion, not considered)
😢Ignores the equity theory

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What is equity AO1 split into?

-Equity
-Consequences of inequity

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Explain equity theory…

-Another economic theory, developed in light of problems with SET, suggests that maximising rewards and minimising costs are important, but equity (balance) is more important

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What does equity basically mean?

Fairness, what matters most to maintain a relationship is that the profit of both partners should be roughly the same

What are the consequences of inequity?

When one partner puts more into a relationship than they get out, they become distressed dissatisfied and the greater this inequity the greater the dissatisfaction

How can inequity be fixed?

By making adjustments in the relationship to ensure there is equity

What are the evaluations of equity theory?

😀/😢Evidence to support equity theory (Utne)/ problems with research
😢Ignores individual differences
😢Unrealistic (Sprecher)
😢Culturally biased (Aumer-Ryan)

What happened in SET study, Simpson?

Showed participants pictures of people and they had to judge attractiveness, those in happy romantic relationships more likely to rate them lower than those not in happy relationships

What happened in study Utne?

Survey on 118 recently married couples aged between 16-45, found the couples who perceived them to be more equitable were more satisfied than those who saw themselves as being overbenefitting/underbenefitting (Survey though = problems)

What happened in Sprecher?

He suggested that a close relationship is too complex to be all about profits and equity, for example it might be the unconditional love that keeps them together, not profits

What happened in Aumer-Ryan?

Found that there are cultural differences in the link between equity and satisfaction, couples in collectivist cultures more satisfied over benefitting, compared to individualistic cultures who needed equity for satisfaction

What are the different sections of Rusbult’s investment model

-The investment model
-Factor 1
-Factor 2
-Factor 3

What is Rusbult's investment model?

-States commitment is the most important reason to maintain a relationship, this is because they have made an investment that they don't want to waste -According to this model, commitment depends on three factors -This is also a development of SET, so there are many similarities

What is factor 1 of Rusbult's investment model?

Satisfaction level, -Referring to the positive v negative effect experienced in a relationship, there is greater satisfaction if there is a more positive effect experienced and they receive more rewards than costs -Satisfaction influenced by degree to which partner meets specific needs -If satisfaction level high, more committed and to be maintained

What is factor 2 of Rusbult's investment model?

Comparison with Alternative, -Refers to the desirability of the best alternative to the current relationship -Based on the extent that another person could meet their needs better, if quality of alternatives is high commitment is lower, and opposite = more likely to maintain

What is factor 3 of Rusbult's investment model?

Investment, -Investment size, this is the amount and importance of the resources associated to the relationship, an investment is anything that we could lose if the relationship breaksdown

What are the different types of investments in Factor 3?

-Intrinsic: things we put directly into a relationship -Extrinsic: Resources that previously didn't feature in the relationship

When does Rusbult's model suggest the relationship is likely to be maintained?

If the investment level is high, we are more committed and it is more likely to be maintained

What are the evaluations of Rusbult's investment model?

😀Evidence to support (Le and Agnew) 😀Explains all relationships (homosexuals/abusive) 😀Helps us to explain real life infidelity 😢Problems with methodology (surveys) 😢Problems with methodology (correlational)

What happened in Le and Agnew study?

Reviewed 52 studies from 1970s-1999, including 11,000 participants and 5 countries. Found that satisfaction, comparison with alternatives and investment size all correlated with commitment. Also those relationships with the most commitment lasted the longest

What is ducks phase model?

He argued that ending a relationship is not a one-off but a process that takes time and goes through 4 phases -Each phase has a threshold

What is the first of Ducks phases?

Intra-psychic phase -Dissatisfaction with the current relationship from one partner expressed, that partner begins to withdraw from the other, begin to brood on their partner's faults -Threshold is: I can't stand it anymore

What is the second of Duck's phases?

Dyadic phase -Unhappiness is now out in the open, couple have relationship discussions and talk through possible changes to solve difficulties -Threshold is: I would be justified in leaving

What is the third of Duck's phases?

Social Phase -Start to tell friends and family about difficulties and possibility of a split -Threshold is: I mean it

What is fourth of Duck's phases?

Grave-dressing phase -Both parties try give their side of the story to people they want to think well of them, each partner creates their own version. -Threshold is: It's now inevitable

What is the fifth bonus phase in Duck's model?

Resurrection phase -Make sense of value, evaluate failure and prepare for future relationships -"Time to get a new life"

What are the evaluations of Duck's phase model?

😀practical application 😢Ignores individual differences 😢Research conducted to come up with this theory is retrospective 😢Socially sensitive area 😢Descriptive not explanatory