Relationships -> Maintenance Of Relationships Flashcards
1
Q
Social Exchange Theory
A
- Economic theory
- Exchange rewards and costs.
- Getting more out of a relationship than they put into it
- Those who offer rewards are attractive
- Relationships that benefit both will succeed
- We experience comparison level & comparison level for alternatives
2
Q
Strengths of Social Exchange Theory
A
- Gottman
- Unsuccessful marriages
- 5:1
- 1:1
- Individual differences in attraction.
3
Q
Weaknesses of Social Exchange Theory
A
- People only monitor rewards and costs once the relationship becomes dissatisfying
- Behaviourist Approach
- Operant conditioning
- Some relationships have little rewards but many costs
4
Q
Equity Theory
A
- Economic model
- Fairness for each partner
- Balance between their costs and their rewards.
- Distress will be felt if the relationship becomes unfair
- Over-benefit they might feel guilt or pity
- Under-benefit they might feel angry or sad
- An imbalance of rewards can be tolerated as long as both parties accept the situation
5
Q
Strengths of Equity Theory
A
- DeMaris
- Women were under-benefitting to a high degree
- High risk of divorce occurring
- Brosnan
- Female monkeys
- Ideas of equity are rooted in our ancient origins.
6
Q
Weaknesses of Equity Theory
A
- Bunk
- No association between equity and future quality of a relationship
- Free will
- Mills and Clark
- Many of the rewards and costs are emotional/psychological and cannot be quantified/measured
- Diminish the quality of love in the relationship which could be damaging
7
Q
Rusbult’s Investment Model
A
- Rusbult
- Developed social exchange theory
- Commitment depends on satisfaction, comparison with alternatives and investment
- Satisfaction is determined by available alternatives
- Investment acts as a deterrent to leaving a relationship
- Intrinsic and extrinsic investment
8
Q
Strengths of Rusbult’s Investment Model
A
- Explain the factor of commitment in a variety of different relationships
- Homosexual relationships
- Van Lange
- Cross cultural valorise
- High commitment levels were related to high satisfaction, low quality of alternatives and high investment size.
9
Q
Weaknesses of Rusbult’s Investment Model
A
- Difficult to measure the factors
- Investment model scale which could measure each of the key variables in a reliable and valid way - Social desirability bias.
- Lin
- Gender differences
- Females tend to report higher satisfaction, poorer quality of alternatives, greater investment and stronger commitment in relationships compared to males
10
Q
Duck’s Phase Model of Relationship Breakdown
A
Duck described how relationship breakdown occurs in a sequence of four phases;
- Intra-psychic Phase
- Dyadic Phase
- Social Phase
- Grave Dressing Phase
11
Q
Intra-psychic Phase
A
One partner is dissatisfied with the relationship but they keep this to themselves and thinks deeply.
12
Q
Dyadic Phase
A
- The problem is raised openly and discussed
- Both might think about investments in the relationships
- There could be reconciliation
13
Q
Social Phase
A
- Friends and family become aware of the breakdown of the relationship
- Time of negotiation and settling of arrangements
14
Q
Grave Dressing Phase
A
- Post-relationship rationalisation of events involving constructing a narrative
- The individuals involved in the relationship rebuild their lives.
15
Q
Strengths of Ducks Phase Model
A
- Social exchange theory
- Relationship has high costs and minimal rewards then the relationship is not worth continuing
- Improvements have been made to the model
- 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.
