RELATIONSHIPS Rusbluts Investment Model Flashcards
Give an overview of rusbults investment model
Meant couples stay together despite the costs outweighing the rewards, si there just be some other factors that keep them together
According to rusbults proposal what are the three main factors that maintain commitment in a relationship ?
Satisfaction level, comparison with alternatives and investment size
What’s the most important factor that maintains commitment to a relationship
Investment
Relationships where partners have invested lots are more likely to survive
What does investment refer to?
Numbers of resources, both tangible and intangible that people will lose if they leave relationships
The model proposes that there are two types of investment :
intrinsic and extrinsic
What is intrinsic investment
Things that we put into a relationship
What is extrinsic investment
Things that are created as a result of the relationship
Rusbult et al also identified maintenance mechanisms partners use to keep relationships going ….
Accommodation Willingness to sacrifice Forgiveness Positive illusions Ridiculing alternatives
AO3
Supporting research for rusbults investment model
Le + Agnew meta analysis 52 studies support both collectivist + individualist
Avoids cultural bias
Explains relationships all round the world
A03
Can help explain why people stay in abusive relationships
Battered women stay partner if investment + no appealing alternatives
Socially sensitive + controversial but help uncover reason why women stay
Show impact psychological research can have - help understand events which are difficult
A03
Rusbults investment model is seen as too simplistic
Goodfriend + Agnew too simplistic - don’t consider ‘future investments’
Reductionist
More to investment that looking at past, would be more useful to take holistic approach that considers other types of investment
