Relationships: Theories of Romantic Relationships SET/Equity/Rusbult's Investment Model (MH) Flashcards
Social Exchange Theory is what type of theory?
Economic
In Social Exchange Theory, what do parties exchange?
Rewards and costs
Who suggested that relationships involve rewards and costs?
Homan
According to Homan, individuals are attracted to those who offer…?
Rewards
Satisfaction from a relationship depends on the ratio between…?
Costs and benefits
In relationships people act selfishly. How?
Minimising costs, maximising rewards
If rewards outweigh the costs, there is…?
Profit
If costs outweigh rewards, there is…?
Loss
If there is loss in a relationship, how will the partners feel?
Dissatisfied
A relationship where the rewards exceed the costs is likely to be…?
Maintained
Thibaut and Kelley explained that there are two types of comparisons where we measure the profits of our relationship. What are these?
Comparison levels
Comparison levels of alternatives
What is meant by comparison levels?
the amount of reward you believe you deserve to get.
What is meant by comparison levels of alternatives?
questioning whether you believe you could gain greater rewards and fewer costs from another relationship
What is the difference between comparison levels and comparison levels of alternatives?
Comparison levels refers to comparing past relationships to current relationships, whereas comparison levels of alternatives refers to comparing current relationship to potential future relationships.
What kind of model is equity theory?
an economic model
What does equity theory aim to do?
it explains relationships based on Social Exchange theory but aims to explain how SET would work in real life relationships
Equity is based on the idea of ___________ for each partner, not necessarily equality.
fairness
What should each partner experience according to equity theory?
a balance between their cost/effort and their benefit/reward.
each partner should feel they are getting out of the relationship the same as they put in.
If both profit levels are the same, equity theory would argue that there will be ____________________ in the relationship.
satisfaction
If there is an inequity in profit levels, what does that lead to according to equity theory?
Dissatisfaction
If there is equity (fairness) in the relationship, what will happen?
the relationship will be maintained
If there is inequity in the relationship, what will the ‘loser’ (under benefitted partner) feel?
dissatisfied, angry and hostile due to embarrassment.
If there is inequity in the relationship, what will the ‘winner’ (over benefitted partner) feel?
guilty and the relationship will not be maintained due to a lack of perceived fairness in the relationship.
What does Rusbult’s model emphasise the central importance of?
Commitment in relationships
Commitment in relationships is the key element of who’s model?
Rusbult
Rusbult’s Investment model includes what elements?
Commitment, satisfaction, comparison with alternatives and investment.
Which theory of romantic relationships focuses on commitment, satisfaction, comparison with alternatives and investment?
Rusbult’s investment model
What does Rusbult suggest about satisfaction level?
A satisfying relationship is judged by comparing rewards and costs whereby relationships are profitable when there are many rewards and few costs - each partner is satisfied.
What makes a satisfying relationship according to Rusbult?
Where there are many rewards and few costs so each partner is satisfied.
What does Rusbult mean by comparison with alternatives?
The perceived desirability of the best alternative to the current relationship based upon the extent to which an individual’s needs could be better met within an alternative relationship.
What does Rusbult suggest if comparison with alternatives shows an individual that their needs would not be better met with an alternative partner?
the commitment to the relationship is stronger
What does Rusbult mean by investment size?
the amount and importance of the rewards associated with a relationship. Resources would decline in value or be lost if the relationship was to end.
What two types of investment did Rusbult suggest?
Intrinsic and Extrinsic
What is meant by an Intrinsic investment?
resources put DIRECTLY into the relationship. Tangible things such as money and possessions. Intangible things such as time/effort/energy/emotion.
What is meant by an Extrinsic investment?
investments that did not previously feature in the relationship which are now closely associated with - e.g. shared/mutual friends, children, house, shared memories.
High satisfaction + no better alternative + increased investment size = ?
Increased level of commitment to the relationship
High satisfaction + ? + increased investment size = Increased level of commitment to the relationship.
No better alternative
