Relationships: Social Exchange Theory Flashcards
What is the Social Exchange Theory (SET)?
Views relationships like a business. Individuals want to maximise their ‘profits’ (rewards) and minimise any ‘losses’ (costs) within the relationship.
Who created SET?
Thibaut and Kelley (1959)
What are the main explanations used in SET
- Rewards, costs and profits
- Comparison Level (CL)
- Comparison level for alternatives (CLA)
- 4 stages of profits and losses
What are examples of rewards in a relationship?
Emotional support, ex, companionship and care
What are the costs in a relationship?
Missed opportunities, having to compromise, financial investments.
What ways do people compare their relationships?
Comparison level (CL) Comparison level of alternatives (CLA)
What is comparison level?
Claim they use a comparison level (CL) to actively compare their current relationships with those experienced in previous relationships. Measures the reward you believe you deserve.
What is the comparison level of alternatives?
People will compare their current profits in a relationship to the likely profits available from other potential relationships.
What are the 4 stages for profit and loss?
- Sampling
- Bargaining
- Commitment
- Institutionalisation
What is the sampling stage?
The costs and rewards of associating with others are explored.
What is the bargaining stage?
A process of negotiation in which rewards and costs are agreed.
What is the commitment stage?
Exchange of rewards and acceptance of costs stabilises. Greater focus on the relationship itself.
What is the institutionalisation stage?
Norms and expectations are firmly established.
What research can be used for SET?
Kurdek and Schmitt (1986)
What was the method of Kurdek and Schmitt?
Each couple completed a questionnaire without discussing their answers with each other.
4 groups: married heterosexual, co-habiting heterosexual, same-sex couples (male + female groups).
