RELATIONSHIPS - theories of romantic Relationships : Social Exchange Theory

Question 1

What is the social exchange theory?

Answer 1

A theory which assumes that a satisfying and romantic relationship is maintained when rewards exceed costs and potential alternatives are less attractive than the current relationship.

Question 2

Explain Thibault and Kelly (1959).

Answer 2

• proposed social exchange theory
• use concepts from economics and from operant conditioning = we form a relationship if it is rewarding
• MINIMAX PRINCIPLE = we minimise loss and maximise rewards and judge out the satisfaction of a relationship in terms of the profit it yields.

Rewards = emotional support, sex, praise
Costs = time, stress, energy

Question 3

What is comparison level (CL)?

Answer 3

• the amount of reward you believe you deserve to get.
• develops from previous relationships that builds our expectations
• CL = influenced by social norms , experience and past relationships
• when CL is high we pursue a relationship
• ppl with low self esteem may have low CL = will be satisfied with gaining a low profit
• someone with high self esteem believe that they are worth more

Question 4

Explain comparison level for alternatives .

Answer 4

• considers whether we might gain more rewards and endure fewer costs in a different relationship.
• we will stay in a relationship if we believe that it is more rewarding than alternative relationships.

Question 5

Explain Duck (1994).

Answer 5

Suggests that there are always alternatives around. If the costs of our current relationship outweigh the rewards then alternatives become more attractive.

Question 6

What are the stages of relationship development?

Answer 6

• sampling stage
• bargaining stage
• commitment stage
  -institutionalisation stage

Question 7

Explain the sampling stage.

Answer 7

Explaining rewards and costs of social exchange by experimenting or observing them

Question 8

Explain the bargaining stage

Answer 8

Beginning of a relationship, partners start exchanging various rewards or costs.

Question 9

Explain the commitment stage

Answer 9

Sources of costs and rewards become predictable and relationship becomes more stable as costs decrease and rewards increase.

Question 10

Explain the institutionalisation stage.

Answer 10

Partners are settled down because the rewards and costs are firmly established.

Question 11

Give strengths of social exchange theory

Answer 11

+ RESEARCH SUPPORT FOR THE ASPECTS OF SET
Eg Kurdek asked gay+ lesbian + heterosexual couples to complete questionnaires which measured relationship commitment + SET variables = most committed partners perceived the most rewards and fewest costs, viewed alternatives as unattractive = findings match predictions from SET, increasing validity of the theory.

Question 12

Give limitations of the social exchange theory.

Answer 12

• COUNTERPOINT TO KURDEK = ignores the role of equity which has more research support for its role in relationships. Partners perceptions of rewards and costs is also important not just the balance of rewards and costs = neglect of equity means that SET IS A LIMITED EXPLANATION
• Argyle (1987) = during the relationship, because we are satisfied, we don’t monitor costs and rewards therefore we don’t notice alternatives. =this goes against SET’S claims that one becomes dissatisfied after the relationship becomes non profitable.
• rewards and costs have been defined superficially ( not in depth ). Real world psychological rewards and costs are subjective and harder to define. Rewards and costs vary from one person to another = this theory is difficult to test in a valid way.
• INAPPROPRIATE CENTRAL ASSUMPTIONS = SET assumes that relationships are economic in nature