Relationships - Social Exchange Theory Flashcards
Outline social exchange theory
Social exchange theory is an example of an ‘economic theory’ of a relationship. Such theories suggest that people in relationships wish to give and receive something, assuming that people act out of self-interest ultimately.
Thibault and Kelley (1959) suggest that relationship satisfaction is judged by considering the ‘rewards’ and ‘costs’ the relationship produces. People seek to minimise the losses and maximise the rewards, leading to ‘profit’ (the ‘minimax principle’). What counts as rewards and costs will vary from person to person and relationship to relationship, and will change over time. They include sex, emotional support, praise (rewards) and stress, energy, having to compromise (costs). The ‘opportunity cost’ refers to the investment in a current relationship preventing a person investing resources elsewhere.
What is comparison level in SET?
This is one measure of the profit in a relationship, referring to the amount of reward a person thinks they deserve to get. It is influenced by previous relationship and social norms (affected by the media). If the person’s CL is high, they will think the relationship is worth pursuing. People with high self-esteem are more likely to have a high CL (and low CL for those with low self-esteem) meaning the expectation of reward is greater.
What is comparison level for alternatives in SET?
The second measure of profit. This involves a person considering whether they would get more rewards, and fewer costs, from another relationship, or from being single. According to the theory, the person will remain in the relationship if they think that the current relationship will give greater profit than the alternatives. This is affected by the state of the current relationship- if it is satisfying, there is much less need to consider alternatives.
Outline the stages of relationship development
Thibault and Kelley suggest each relationship develops through four stages:
Sampling stage: exploring the rewards and costs of relationships (not just romantic relationships) through experimentation
Bargaining stage: the beginning of a relationship, where various costs and rewards are identified through exchange and negotiation
Commitment stage: costs and rewards become more predictable and the relationship becomes more stable- rewards increase, costs lessen
Institutionalisation stage: the norms of the relationship are firmly established
Evaluate social exchange theory - colleagues
It has been argued that economic exchange characterises non-romantic relationships (such as between work colleagues), but do not characterise romantic relationships, as neither partner keeps ‘score’ of who is ahead and behind on rewards and costs. SET may be based on a faulty assumption and is therefore weakened.
Evaluate social exchange theory - Miller
Miller (1997) found that those who rated themselves as being in a committed relationship spent less time looking at images of attractive people, suggesting that dissatisfaction in a relationship is what leads to the costs/rewards being calculated, rather than the calculation leading to dissatisfaction. This weakens the prediction of SET.
Evaluate social exchange theory - fairness
There is evidence that measures of fairness are more important in relationships than calculation of costs and rewards, suggesting that SET is, at best, a limited explanation of romantic relationships.
