Relationships- Social Exchange Theory And Equity Theory (Theories Of Romantic RS)

Question 1

SET and ET are…?

Answer 1

Economic theories because they used economic concepts

Question 2

Which two people are crucial for the set theory ?

Answer 2

Thibault and Kelley (1959)

Question 3

Thibault and Kelley (1959):

Answer 3

Suggest an economic theory of romantic relationships, Similar to how a business completes a cost/benefit analysis, each romantic partner will want to maximise rewards/profits and minimise costs/losses in starting or maintaining a relationship, this is known as the min-max principle. SET THEORY

Question 4

Rewards and costs:

SET

Answer 4

Rewards and Costs: Both partners looking for mutually beneficial arrangements results in stable and successful relationships.

Question 5

• Rewards can include:

Answer 5

self-esteem, entertainment, gaining financial security, friendship, sex. we are more attracted to these people.

Question 6

• Costs can include:

Answer 6

giving up time, emotional instability, stress, loosing financial security, opportunity cost. We are less attracted to these people.

Question 7

• Some rewards and costs may be viewed as…. This leads to ?

Answer 7

more or less important by different people.

Leading to CL AND CA

Question 8

Comparison level (CL) :

Answer 8

This is the estimation of how rewarding a relationship should be, to decide this we compare our current relationship to previous relationships, other peoples relationships or those we see in the media.

Acceptable CL changes over a lifetime and is linked to feelings of self worth.

Question 9

Comparison with Alternatives (Clalt):

Answer 9

People look at other potential partners and consider if their would be a higher profit, if higher profit can be found with an alternative the original relationship will end.

Question 10

Thibaut & Kelley proposed a 4 stage model of long-term relationships:
The four stages are:

Answer 10

Sampling
Bargaining
Commitment
Institutionalisation

Question 11

Thibaut & Kelley proposed a 4 stage model of long-term relationships:
Stage 1

Answer 11

Sampling
The couple explores the rewards and costs in a variety of
relationships

Question 12

Thibaut & Kelley proposed a 4 stage model of long-term relationships:
Stage 2

Answer 12

Bargaining
The couple negotiates the relationship and agrees the
rewards and costs

Question 13

Thibaut & Kelley proposed a 4 stage model of long-term relationships:
Stage 3

Answer 13

Commitment
The couple settles into the relationship and the exchange of reward becomes fairly predictable

Question 14

Thibaut & Kelley proposed a 4 stage model of long-term relationships:
Stage 4

Answer 14

Institutionalisation
Norms and expectations are firmly
established

Question 15

Many psychologists believe

Answer 15

That the key to maintaining a relationship is to ensure that it is mutually benefiting

Question 16

A03 Rusbult (1983) SET in relationships

Answer 16

Used a longitudinal questionnaire study with 17 male and 17 female participants in heterosexual relationships. Questions included costs, rewards, investment and comparisons with alternatives. Findings indicated that cost benefit applied less to the start of a relationship, but costs and benefits were considered more as relationships developed. Also costs and benefits were considered against alternatives who became less attractive over time and that as satisfaction increased so did commitment.

This suggests that people do consider if they should end their relationships by assessing alternate options and their overall profit.

Question 17

A03 Spreecher (2001)

Answer 17

who in a study of 101 dating couples found as the availability of alternative partners increased levels of commitment and satisfaction decreased. Suggesting that either that people are more satisfied when there are no alternatives, or when satisfied people will not look for alternatives.

Question 18

A03 Spreecher (2001)

Answer 18

who in a study of 101 dating couples found as the availability of alternative partners increased levels of commitment and satisfaction decreased. Suggesting that either that people are more satisfied when there are no alternatives, or when satisfied people will not look for alternatives.

Question 19

A03 weakness of Rusbult SET in RS

Answer 19

Research on activity dating couples could both have low validity, as very few couples will regularly intensively “rate” their relationship as required by Rusbult, consideration of rewards and costs are more likely to be a somewhat unconscious process.

Question 20

Duck and Sants
A03 for SET AND ET

Answer 20

Criticised for focussing too much on the individual’s perspective and ignoring the social aspects of a relationship (Duck & Sants, 1983). Assumes that we are selfish and are only motivated to maintain relationships out of hedonistic concerns.

Question 21

Development of SET

Answer 21

Developing SET: Equity theory is also an economic model, with all of the assumptions of Social exchange theory (SET), however Hatfield (1979) suggests this is missing the factor of fairness or Equality.

Question 22

ET equality

Answer 22

Equality: People are more satisfied in a relationship if they feel the the balance of rewards and costs between partners is similar or they are getting what they deserve.

Question 23

• Balance:
ET

Answer 23

both partners profits minus loss should be the same even if they are different profits and losses. For example one partner may put a lot into a relationship while getting a lot out of it, while the other gets much less out of it, but puts far less in.

Question 24

Over-benefits:
ET

Answer 24

If one partner gets more overall profit they will feel personal shame and pity towards the other partner and may feel guilty.

Question 25

Under-benefits:
ET

Answer 25

If one partner gets more overall costs they will feel resentful and ultimately will become angry towards the other partner.

Question 26

Change in perspective:
ET

Answer 26

over time what is considered unfair may change, early in relationship attraction could be seen as more important than equity. However Hatfield (2011) suggests that in the later stages of relationships, successful couples are less likely to “keep score”.

Question 27

Equity theory Walster et al 1978

Answer 27

• Assumes that most people try to achieve fairness in their relationships and feel distress if they perceive unfairness.
• It is inequity in relationships that is seen as having the potential to create dissatisfaction.
• In summary, the theory suggests that ppl are more satisfied with an equal give and take in a relationship

Question 28

ET
Profit

Answer 28

Rewards are maximised and costs minimised

Question 29

ET
Distribution

Answer 29

Trade-offs and compensations are negotiated to achieve fairness in a relationship

Question 30

ET
Dissatisfaction

Answer 30

The greater the degree of perceived unfairness, the greater the sense of dissatisfaction

Question 31

ET
Realignment

Answer 31

If restoring equity is possible, maintenance will continue, with attempts made to realign equity

Question 32

Utne et al (1984) Equity in marriage

Answer 32

Utne used a self report method on newly married couples who had been together for at least two years. The questionnaire recorded their perceived level of equality and measure of their relationship stability and distress. Found that partners who felt they were treated with more equity thought the relationship was more stable, and were happier in it. Utne also found that there are no sex differences in concern for equality.
This suggests that as predicted by the equity theory feelings of equality are important in the stability of relationships.

However
This research is correlational rather than a lack of equality resulting in dissatisfaction in a relationship, it may be that dissatisfaction results in a partner perceiving that their relationship is unequal.

Question 33

A03

• SET/Equity assumes people are

Answer 33

logical in calculating relationship decisions however there are many examples of individuals who start very illogical relationships according to SET such as people in abusive relationships with little affection.

Question 34

A03
people have differing

Answer 34

•However as people have differing perceptions about what rewards and costs are in relationships, SET/Equity is able to describe a range of individual differences in relationships.

Question 35

A03

As relationships enter the maintenance phase

Answer 35

•As relationships enter the maintenance phase physical attraction becomes less important. SET/Equity may explain this part of the relationships more accurately

Question 36

A03
SET may however be too simplistic

Answer 36

•SET may however be too simplistic, it does not consider the role of equality within a relationship, assuming that as long as both partners are in profit the relationships will continue, however if one partner had far more profit then the other partner is likely to become dissatisfied. Also Rusbult’s extension to the theory also considers the investment size rather than current costs and benefits

Question 37

A03
SET/Equity theory is culturally biased

Answer 37

•It may be that SET/Equity theory is culturally biased, individual satisfaction levels are less important in collectivist societies when considering romantic partners, with relationships often being arranged.

Question 38

A03
Avoiding shame

Answer 38

•Avoiding shame may play more of a role in relationship maintenance, however a consideration of profit and loss by the family would be included in the initial setting up of a relationship