Relationships : Investment Model

Question 1

Rusbult’s Investment Model of Commitment

Answer 1

Rusbult’s Investment Model is a theory of romantic relationships that was developed to explain why some people might remain in a relationship while others might not. It is based on four factors : satisfaction , investment , comparison with alternatives , and commitment.

Question 2

Satisfaction

Answer 2

Satisfaction is one of the factors included in Rusbult’s Investment Model of commitment. It refers to the positive versus negative emo4ons experienced within a relationship and how much one partner salsifies another partner’s needs.

Question 3

Comparison with Alternatives

Answer 3

Comparison with alternatives is part of Rusbult’s Investment Model of relationships. Rusbult proposed that if there is a more attractive alternative (e.g. being alone or with another possible partner), then an individual might end their current relationship. However, if a beJer alternative is not available, then they may remain in their current relationship.

Question 4

Investment

Answer 4

Investment refers to anything that a person has put into a relationship that would be lost if they lep the relationship. This can include possessions, children, time and even emotional energy.

Question 5

Who made the investment model?

Answer 5

The Investment Model was put forward by Rusbult et al. (2001), as a development of Social Exchange Theory. The rationale for developing SET further was that many couples stay together despite the costs outweighing the rewards, so there must be some other factors that keep them together. Rusbult’s Investment Model investigates what these other factors might be.

Question 6

What are major factors that maintain commitment in a relationship?

Answer 6

According to Rusbult’s proposal, there are three major factors that maintain commitment in relationships: satisfaction level, comparison with alternatives and investment size

Question 7

What satisfaction level and comparison?

Answer 7

• Satisfaction level and comparison with alternatives are based on the idea of comparison levels from Social Exchange Theory. People will have a high level of satisfaction with relationships if they have more rewards (companionship, attention, emotional support) and fewer costs (arguments, time).

-They also tend to be committed to relationships if, when asking themselves, ‘Is there a better alternative to satisfy my needs?’ the answer is ‘no’. Alternatives can include staying on their own and not engaging in romantic relationships at all, as well as finding a new partner.

Question 8

What is the most important factor that maintains commitment in a relationship?

Answer 8

the most important factor that maintains commitment to a relationship is investment. Investment refers to the number of resources, both tangible, like money or possessions, and intangible, like happy memories, that people will lose if they leave relationships.

Question 9

What is an Intrinsic investment ?

Answer 9

Intrinsic investment comprises the things we put directly into the relationship, such as effort, money, possessions, self-disclosure.

Question 10

What is an Extrinsic investment ?

Answer 10

Extrinsic investment refers to the things that are brought to people’s life through the relationships, such as children, friends and shared memories.

Question 11

What did Rusbult et al conclude?

Answer 11

Because both intrinsic and extrinsic investments can potentially be lost if relationships end, Rusbult et al. concluded that the bigger the investment, the more likely people are to stay in relationships. Therefore, it is the investment size that influences commitment to relationships, rather than just the level of satisfaction or existence of potential alternatives.

Question 12

What are the maintenance mechanisms partners use to keep relationships?

Answer 12

• Accommodation
• Willingness to sacrifice
• Forgiveness
• Positive illusions
• Ridiculing alternatives

Question 13

What is accommodation in maintenance mechanisms?

Answer 13

• Accommodation – acting in a way that promotes relationships, rather than keeping a tally of costs and rewards.

Question 14

What is willingness to sacrifice in maintenance mechanisms?

Answer 14

Putting partner’s interests first.

Question 15

What is forgiveness in maintenance mechanisms?

Answer 15

willingness to forgive partner’s mistakes, both minor and serous ones.

Question 16

What is positive illusions maintenance mechanisms?

Answer 16

Being unrealistically positive about partner’s qualities

Question 17

What is Ridiculing alternatives maintenance mechanisms?

Answer 17

minimising the advantages of potential alternatives and viewing them in a negative light.

Question 18

Research supporting the investment model?

Answer 18

• There are numerous research studies suppor4ng the Investment Model. Impett, Beals and Peplau (2002) conducted a longitudinal study using a large sample of married couples over an 18 months period. They found that stability of the relationships positively correlated with commitment shown by the partners.
• Rhahgan and Axsom (2006) studied a group of women and found that all three factors identified by Rusbult et al. (Satisfaction , comparison with alternatives and investment) featured in participants’ decision to stay with their partner.

Question 19

More evidence supporting the investment model?

Answer 19

Lee and Agnew (2003)
• Conducted a meta-analysis where they reviewed 52 studies from 1970 to 1999
• 11,000 participants from five countries
• Found that satisfaction, comparison with alternatives and investment all predicted relationship commitment
• Relationships with high levels of commitment were most successful
• Outcomes were true for both men and women, and homosexual and heterosexual couples

Question 20

Strengths of the theory

Answer 20

• Methodology
  Self-report measures such as questionnaires or interviews
  Important as it is the indiviudals perception of the relationship and the factors surrounding the relationship It is your belief or non-belief in the relationship that will influence your commitment
• Explains abusive relationships
  Why are abused partners so committed to the relationship?
  Rusbult and Martz (1995)
  Studied ‘battered’ women at a shelter and found that those most likely to return to an abusive partner reported making the most investment and having the least attractive alternatives
  A victim of abuse does not have to be satisfied with a relationship to stay in it
• Application to other populations
  Main claims of the model have been shown to be applicable to many populations in different types of relationships (US, Netherlands, Taiwan) with different participants (homosexual, heterosexual, martial and non-marital, friendships and abusive relationships)

Question 21

Problems with the Methodology

Answer 21

Measuring the variables
• Difficult to measure commitment, investment and satisfaction – faced criticism for this
• Developed the Investment Model Scale – shown to have high reliability and validity while measuring these variables
• Also applicable to a wide variation of populations
• However the scale does rely on self-report measures. What could be a problem with this?

Question 22

Weaknesses of the Study

Answer 22

• Oversimplifies investment
  • Goodfriend and Agnew (2008) – there is more to investment than just the resources you have already put in
  • The partners early on will have made very few investments
  • Extended the Investment Model by adding in Future Investments.
  • Original model is limited – does not recognise true complexity of investment
• Correlational Research
  • A strong correlation is not evidence of causation
  • We cannot conclude that these factors cause commitment in a relationship
  • Direction of causality may be the reverse of what the model states – the more committed you feel to a partner, the more investment you are willing to make

Question 23

What study did Rusbult do in 1983?

Answer 23

• Participants were asked to read descriptions of hypothetical relationships that varied in all of the following ; satisfaction level, alternatives, and investment
• As well as how satisfied and committed they thought the individuals would be to that relationship
• Also carried out a longitudinal study where participants were asked to complete a survey about their own relationship to determine if changes in satisfaction level, quality of alternatives and investment size affected the level of commitment in their relationship
• As a result, they would predict how long the relationship would last

Question 24

What is an investment in a relationship?

Answer 24

Investment – the resources associated with a romantic relationship which the partner would lose if the relationship were to end
• Considered to be the most important factor in maintaining commitment in a relationship