Relationships - Theories of romantic relationships : Equity theory

Question 1

According to Equity theory, what is the key to a successful relationship?

Answer 1

Striking a balance between the ratio of costs and rewards that each individual has. The costs and rewards are NOT the same for both partners, which makes it a ‘fair’ relationship.

Question 2

Give examples of rewards in a relationship

Answer 2

Intimacy, love, sex , support and encouragement

Question 2

Give examples of rewards in a relationship

Answer 2

Intimacy, love, sex , support and encouragement

Question 3

Give examples of costs in a relationship

Answer 3

Infidelity and abuse

Question 4

What can differences in perceived equity lead to?

Answer 4

Can cause one person being overbenefitted while the second is underbenefited. Disparity causes overbenefitted to feel guilty and not worthy of the other and the underbenefitted to feel envious and disappointed that their input is not reciprocal.

Question 5

What does the degree of difference between the two ratios determine?

Answer 5

Determines the likelihood of the relationship being salvaged and the effort required to do so.

Question 6

What is the behavioural outcome to salvaging a relationship?

Answer 6

One partner will increase their own cost in order to increase the reward of the other individual in an attempt to increase equity

Question 7

What is the cognitive outcome to salvaging a relationship?

Answer 7

One or both individuals making their expectations or perceptions of equity more realistic, such as accepting costs as standards/ norms. Costs can include abuse, messiness and unfaithfulness.

Question 8

Does the ratio change?

Answer 8

Yes - the ratio does not often stay the same throughout the entire relationship. The input or cost is often much larger in the early stages in order to secure the other partner. The input decreases as a standardised equity has been established between the couple

Question 9

What are the limitations of equity theory ?

Answer 9

• There is evidence contradicting the idea that equity is universal across all relationships and crucial to upholding the quality of all relationships . Huseman = benevolents + entitleds
• It has been suggested by Clark and Mills that equity theory may be a better or more valid explanation for friendship and business/ non-personal relationships

Question 10

What are the strengths of equity theory?

Answer 10

+ There is evidence supporting the link between equity theory and the satisfaction or commitment in a relationship. Utne et al. found that satisfied couples valued equity as a key component of the success of their relationship. They preferred this balance.

Question 11

What does the equity theory claim?

Answer 11

Claims that people are most comfortable when what they get out of a relationship is roughly equal to what they put in

Question 12

When is inequity in marriage likely to occur?

Answer 12

(Schafer and Keith) During child-rearing years, wives often felt under-benefited and husbands over-benefited - as a result marital satisfaction tended to dip

Question 13

When is equity in marriage likely to occur?

Answer 13

During the honeymoon period and after children have left home, both husbands and wives were more likely to perceive equity and feel satisfaction

Question 14

What was Stafford and Canary’s procedure?

Answer 14

They were interested in how equity and satisfaction predicted the use of maintenance strategies typically used in marriage.
- over 200 married couples asked to complete a measures of equity and relationship satisfaction
- Each spouse was asked questions about their use of relationship maintenance strategies such as assurances (emphasising affection), sharing responsibilities and positivity

Question 15

What was Stafford and Canary’s findings?

Answer 15

Revealed that satisfaction was highest for spouses who perceived their relationships to be equitable , followed by over-benefitted partners and then under-benefitted partners. In particular, under-benefitted husbands reported significantly lower levels of relationship maintenance strategies compared to equitable or over-benefitted husbands. The relationships between equity and marital status appeared to be complementary
Spouses who were treated equitably tended to be happier and so were more likely to engage in behaviours that contributed to their spouses’ sense of equity and happiness.

Question 16

Explain gender differences in the importance of equity

Answer 16

DeMaris et al point out that men and women are not equally affected by inequity in romantic relationships . Women tend to perceive themselves as more under-benefited and less over-benefited in relationships compared to men. Women are also more disturbed by being UB then are men. Sprecher found that women feel more guilty for being over-benefited . DeMaris suggested many reasons for these gender differences - women’s greater relationship focus may make them more sensitive to injustices and an increased emphasis on gender equality in modern marriage may lead women to be more vigilant about, and reactive to, relationship inequity

Question 17

Explain supporting evidence from the study of non-human primates

Answer 17

In a study with capuchin monkeys, Brosnan and de Waal found that female monkeys became very angry if they were denied a highly prized reward of grapes in return for playing a game. If another monkey (who didn’t play the game) received the grapes instead , the monkeys grew so angry they hurled food at the experimenter.

In a later study, Brosnan found that chimpanzees were more upset by injustice in casual relationships than in close, intimate relationships .

These studies echo what researchers have found in human relationships and suggest that the perception of inequity has ancient origins.