Relationships- Theories of romantic relationships: Equity theory Flashcards
Equity theory -
An economic theory of how relationships develop. As such, it acknowledges the impact of rewards and costs on relationship satisfaction, but criticises social exchange theory for ignoring the central role of equity - the perception that partners have that the distribution of rewards and costs in the relationship is fair.
What is equity theory?
Equity theory is an economic theory developed in response to a significant criticism of social exchange theory (SET). It emphasizes the importance of fairness in relationships, where both partners’ level of profit (rewards minus costs) is roughly the same.
What does the term ‘equity’ mean in equity theory?
The term ‘equity’ means fairness. It refers to both partners’ level of profit (rewards minus costs) being roughly the same, rather than equality where costs and rewards are identical for each partner.
What happens when there is a lack of equity in a relationship?
When there is a lack of equity, one partner overbenefits and the other underbenefits, leading to dissatisfaction and unhappiness. The underbenefitted partner may feel anger, hostility, resentment, and humiliation, while the overbenefitted partner may feel guilt, discomfort, and shame.
What is the difference between equity and equality in relationships?
Equity refers to fairness, where the ratio of rewards to costs is similar for both partners, even if the amounts differ. Equality, on the other hand, requires that the levels of costs and rewards are identical for each partner.
How does equity theory explain fairness in relationships where one partner has a disability?
In such relationships, fairness may come from compensations the disabled partner offers in other areas or from the satisfactions the more active partner gains from their behavior. A precisely equal distribution of tasks may not be seen as fair in this context.
What are the consequences of inequity in a relationship?
Inequity leads to distress and dissatisfaction. The greater the perceived inequity, the greater the dissatisfaction, affecting both the overbenefitted and underbenefitted partners if they perceive the inequity.
How does a change in perceived equity over time affect relationship satisfaction?
A change in perceived equity over time, such as contributing more and receiving less as the relationship progresses, leads to decreased satisfaction compared to the early stages of the relationship.
How do romantic partners typically react to inequity?
Partners may work hard to restore equity if they believe the relationship is salvageable. Alternatively, they may revise their perceptions of rewards and costs to make the relationship feel more equitable, even if nothing changes.
What did Mary Utne and her colleagues (1984) find in their study of married couples?
They found that couples who considered their relationship equitable were more satisfied than those who saw themselves as overbenefitting or underbenefitting, supporting equity theory.
What did Katherine Aumer-Ryan et al. (2007) discover about cultural differences in equity and satisfaction?
They found that couples in individualist cultures were most satisfied when relationships were equitable, while those in collectivist cultures were most satisfied when overbenefitting, suggesting equity is not a universal need.
What did Huseman et al. (1987) suggest about individual differences in sensitivity to equity?
They suggested that some people, called benevolents, are less sensitive to equity and are willing to contribute more than they receive, while entitleds believe they deserve to overbenefit without distress.
What did Margaret Clark and Judson Mills (2011) conclude about equity in different types of relationships?
They concluded that equity plays a central role in casual friendships, business relationships, and acquaintanceships, but its importance in romantic relationships is more mixed.
What did Daniel Berg and Kristen McQuinn (1986) find in their study of dating couples?
They found that equity did not increase over time in dating couples, and equity theory did not distinguish between relationships that ended and those that continued, suggesting other variables like self-disclosure were more important.
How does contradictory research evidence challenge equity theory?
Contradictory evidence, such as the lack of increased equity over time in relationships, challenges the theory’s predictions and assumptions, particularly regarding the link between equity and satisfaction in romantic relationships.
