Relationships -> Maintenance Of Relationships Flashcards
Social Exchange Theory
Economic theory
Social Exchange Theory considers how partners exchange rewards and costs. Individuals focus on getting more out of a relationship than they put into it. It assumes that those who offer rewards are attractive and those who are perceived to involve costs are less attractive. It predicts that relationships that benefit both parties will succeed whereas relationships that are imbalanced will fail.
We experience comparison level & comparison level for alternatives
Strengths of Social Exchange Theory
- Gottman found evidence that supports the social exchange theory. He found that individuals in unsuccessful marriages frequently report a lack of positive behaviour exchanges with their partner, and an excess of negative exchanges. In successful marriages where the relationship is happy, the ratio or positive to negative exchanges is 5:1, but in unsuccessful marriages the ratio is 1:1.
- Different people perceive rewards and costs differently so this theory can account for individual differences in attraction.
Weaknesses of Social Exchange Theory
- Critics of this theory disagree with the idea that people spend a great deal of time monitoring their relationship in terms of rewards and costs. They argue that people only monitor rewards and costs once the relationship becomes dissatisfying. For instance, we only look at comparison levels in a relationship when we are already dissatisfied, not when we are happy and the relationship is successful.
- The social exchange theory is rooted in the Behaviourist Approach whereby the focus of relationship maintenance is about rewards and operant conditioning. However, some relationships have little rewards but many costs, (e.g. violent relationships) but they still continue
Equity Theory
Economic model
Equity theory is based on the idea of fairness for each partner. It emphasises the need for each partner to experience a balance between their costs/effort and their benefits/rewards.
Distress will be felt if the relationship becomes unfair. If people over-benefit they might feel guilt or pity. If people under-benefit they might feel angry or sad. An imbalance of rewards can be tolerated as long as both parties accept the situation; then the relationship will continue. Equity also means “fairness,” and each person in the relationship must feel that the relationship is fair. An equitable relationship has a fair ratio of rewards and costs for each individual.
Strengths of Equity Theory
- DeMaris studied 1500 and found that if women were under-benefitting to a high degree, then there was a high risk of divorce occurring. Therefore equity and inequity seem to be very important for women in a relationship.
- Brosnan found that female monkeys became angry if they were denied a grape for playing a game, especially if they saw another monkey who had not played the game receive the grapes. The monkeys got so angry that they hurled food at the experimenter. It seems that ideas of equity are rooted in our ancient origins.
Weaknesses of Equity Theory
- Bunk found no association between equity in a relationship and the future quality and maintenance of a relationship. Therefore just because a relationship is equitable and fair in terms of rewards and costs; it does not mean that the relationship will end. People have free will to choose whether to continue with a relationship or not.
- Research conducted by Mills and Clark criticised equity theory. They said that it is not possible to assess equity in loving relationships, as many of the rewards and costs are emotional/psychological and cannot be easily quantified or measured. If we measure rewards and costs then it could diminish the quality of love in the relationship which could be damaging
Rusbult’s Investment Model
Rusbult developed social exchange theory by proposing the investment model. Rusbult saw commitment as a key factor in sustaining a relationship. Commitment depends on satisfaction, comparison with alternatives and investment. Satisfaction is determined by available alternatives, better alternatives equals less satisfaction. Investment acts as a deterrent to leaving a relationship. Intrinsic investment refers to the resources put into the relationship directly and extrinsic investment refers to resources arising out of the relationship
Strengths of Rusbult’s Investment Model
- Investment model has the strength of being applied to explain the factor of commitment in a variety of different relationships. Rusbult administered investment scale questionnaires to participants in homosexual relationships and found that all factors of the investment model were found to be important when looking at commitment.
- Van Lange studied students from Taiwan and from the Netherlands and found evidence that high commitment levels in a relationship were related to high satisfaction, low quality of alternatives and high investment size.
Weaknesses of Rusbult’s Investment Model
- Investment model has been criticised because it is very difficult to measure the factors of commitment, satisfaction, investment and quality of alternatives. Rusbult responded to this criticism and constructed an investment model scale which could measure each of the key variables in a reliable and valid way. The research that Rusbult conducted using these scales involved selfreports, and this then created further problems of social desirability bias.
- Lin criticises investment model because it does not take into account gender differences that might exist when looking at relationships. Lin found that females tend to report higher satisfaction, poorer quality of alternatives, greater investment and stronger commitment in relationships
compared to males
Duck’s Phase Model of Relationship Breakdown
Duck described how relationship breakdown occurs in a sequence of four phases;
- Intra-psychic Phase
- Dyadic Phase
- Social Phase
- Grave Dressing Phase
Intra-psychic Phase
One partner is dissatisfied with the relationship but they keep this to themselves and thinks deeply.
Dyadic Phase
The problem with the relationship is raised openly and discussed between partners. Both partners might think carefully about investments they have in the relationships e.g. house, children, joint possessions etc. There could be reconciliation if the partner accepts the validity of the dissatisfied partner’s views and promises to change their behaviour or makes agreements to sort out issues.
Social Phase
Partners disclose their problem to others and so friends and family become aware of the breakdown of the relationship and give advice and support. For the couple, it is a time of negotiation and settling of arrangements (e.g. financial settlements, custody arrangements for children etc.).
Grave Dressing Phase
Each partner comes to terms with the breakdown of the relationship and there is a post-relationship rationalisation of events involving constructing a narrative (their version of why the relationship ended). The individuals involved in the relationship rebuild their lives.
Strengths of Ducks Phase Model
- Support for Duck’s phase model comes from the social exchange theory. This theory would support Duck’s phase model and would state that if a relationship has high costs and minimal rewards then the relationship is not worth continuing, but instead would breakdown.
- Duck’s phase model was devised in 1982. However, improvements have been made to the model as time has passed. Duck teamed up with a psychologist called Rollie in 2006 and introduced a fifth phase to this model called, the resurrection phase. This is where the person engages in personal growth and gets prepared for new romantic relationships.
