Relationships: TORR - Social exchange theory Flashcards
Thibault and Kelley
proposed relationships could be explained in terms of economics - an exchange of goods
How is satisfaction judged?
Judged in economic terms. Partners consider profit a relationship provides them with; judge perceived value of costs minus the value of rewards
How does a partner consider profit of a relationship?
Judging perceive value of costs minus the value of rewards
Minimax principle
minimise losses and maximise gains in a relationship
What relationships are likely to be a success?
Those judged to be a profit
Rewards of relationships
sex, praise, companionship
Costs of a relationship
time, effort, finance
When do people form a relationship?
When rewards outweigh costs.
thus commitment to a relationship is dependent on profitablitiy
Opportunity cost
needs to be accounted for
recognition that investment in a given relationship is at the ‘cost’ of expending those resources elsewhere
Way in which relationship profit is measure
Comparison level
Comparison level of alternatives
Comparison level
Standard agent against which all relationships are judged
What is comparison level determined by?
Prev relationship experience and general views (e.g. media)
When do you pursue a relationship in comparison line?
When comparison level by partner is met
Comparison level for alternatives
compare current relationship with benefits we would receive from alternative relationship
If benefits of alternative better, end current
If not, maintain current
CLalt depends on what?
Current state of relationship
CLalt: Duck said?
Dependent on state of our relationship..
Only look for alternatives if costs are high in current
SET: stages of relationships
Sampling
bargaining
commitment
institutionalisation
Sampling stage
explore rewards and costs of a relationship by experimenting in own relationships and observing those of others
Bargaining stage
occurs at start of relationship romantic partners begin to negotiate around costs and rewards
Commitment stage
Where relationships become more stable
Costs reduce, rewards increase
Institutionalisation stage
partners become settled
Norms of relationship are established
A03: Ignores importance of equity
If benefits aren’t equal to partners, inequity likely to cause dissatisfaction in relationship, regardless of whether CL’s are similar
A03: assumes all realtionships are economic based
Clark and mills
A03: Nomothetic approach
uncovers universal laws of how relationships are maintained that would be applicable to all couples.
Ways relationships are maintained vary significantly from couple to couple
A03: Reductionist
Complex phenomenon based on costs and rewards
limits range of real life romantic experiences can explain
