Relationships - Equity Theory Flashcards
What is Equity Theory in relationships?
Equity Theory is an economic theory of how relationships develop. It assesses the impact of rewards and costs on relationship satisfaction and focuses on the central role of equity—the perception that partners have that the distribution of rewards and costs in the relationship is fair.
What is the role of equity in relationships?
Equity is about fairness rather than equality. If one partner puts in a lot of effort but gets little out of the relationship while the other partner puts in less and receives a lot, this results in inequity. This imbalance can lead to dissatisfaction and unhappiness.
What is meant by equity and equality in relationships?
Equity is not about equal distribution of rewards and costs. It means that if one partner puts in more effort, they should receive more rewards. Fairness is based on the ratio of inputs to outputs for both partners.
What are the consequences of inequity in relationships?
When inequity occurs, the partner who is under-benefited may feel anger, hostility, resentment, and humiliation, while the over-benefited partner may feel guilt, discomfort, and shame. Both partners are motivated to restore equity if they perceive a lack of fairness.
What is one way to restore equity in a relationship?
Changes can be cognitive (e.g., reassessing what is considered fair) or behavioral (e.g., the under-benefited partner putting in less effort, or the over-benefited partner contributing more to restore fairness). This is important to maintain relationship satisfaction.
What is one evaluation point for equity theory?
Supporting research evidence: Mary Utne et al. (1984) conducted a survey of 118 newly-married couples aged between 16 and 45 and found that those who considered their relationship equitable were more satisfied than those who felt they were over-benefiting or under-benefiting. This research increases the validity of equity theory.
What is another evaluation point for equity theory?
Cultural influences: Aumer-Ryan et al. (2007) found cultural differences in the link between equity and satisfaction. Couples in individualist cultures viewed their relationships as most satisfying when equitable, while those in collectivist cultures were most satisfied when they were over-benefiting. This challenges the idea that equity is a universal feature of romantic relationships.
What is a criticism of equity theory regarding individual differences?
Not all partners are concerned about equity. Huseman et al. (1987) identified two types of people: benevolents, who are willing to contribute more and receive less, and entitleds, who believe they deserve to over-benefit without feeling guilty. This shows equity is not universally important in relationships.
What is an issue with contradictory research for equity theory?
Longitudinal studies by Berg and McQuinn (1986) found that equity did not increase in relationships over time, as equity theory suggests. Other variables, like self-disclosure, were more important in determining relationship satisfaction. This challenges the central claims of equity theory.
