Rusbult's Investment Model Flashcards
What is Rusbult’s investment theory?
It’s a development of social exchange theory.
It aims to explain why people persist in some romantic relationships and not in others. Rusbult et al (2011) suggested that commitment is an important factor in relationships.
Define the term commitment.
Refers to the intention or desire to continue the relationship (believing it to have a future).
State the factors that commitment is affected by.
Satisfaction level.
Comparison with alternatives.
Investment size.
What is the satisfaction level?
Based on the concept of comparison level (CL). A satisfying relationship is judged by comparing rewards and costs and is seen as profitable if it has many rewards and few costs.
However, satisfaction by itself will not be enough to determine the continuation of a relationship.
What is the comparison with alternatives?
Refers to an individual’s assessment of whether their needs might be better fulfilled by somebody other than their current partner.
Define the term investment.
Is the number of resources both tangible, like money or possessions and intangible, like happy memories, that people will lose if they leave the relationship. The model proposes two types of investment: intrinsic and extrinsic.
What is intrinsic investment?
Are any resources put directly into the relationship.
Effort, money, possessions, self-disclosure.
What is extrinsic investment?
Are the resources that are brought to people’s life through the relationship.
Children, friends and shared memories.
Describe investment size.
Rusbult et al. concluded that the bigger the investment, the m ore likely people are to stay relationships. Therefore, it is the investment size that influences commitment to relationships, rather than just the level of satisfaction or existence of potential alternatives.
How do people work out how satisfying a relationship is according to this model?
By considering the three factors of satisfaction level, investment size and comparing with alternatives to determine a level of commitment.
Why did Rusbult think that the distinction between commitment and satisfaction was important?
He argued that commitment rather than satisfaction was the main factor causing people to stay in romantic relationships. It can help explain why people who aren’t satisfied in their relationship choose to stay, ie. because they are committed to their partner.
List the relationship maintenance mechanisms.
Cognitive Maintenance Mechanisms
Positive illusions: Being unrealistically positive about our partners
Ridiculing alternatives: Being negative about tempting alternatives and other people’s relationships
Behavioural Maintenance Mechanisms
Accommodation: No tit-for-tat retaliation.
Willing to make sacrifices: Putting a partner’s interests first
Forgiveness: Forgiving one another for transgressions.
What are the strengths of Rusbult’s investment model?
Supporting evidence for the investment model -
Rusbult, Le and Agnew (2003), Rusbult and Martz (1995).
What was Rusbult’s method in study 1?
To test hypothesis of investment model. Rusbult asked college students in heterosexual relationships to complete questionnaires over a 7 month period.
Kept notes about how satisfactory, comparison with others and how much they invested to their relationship.
What were Rusbult’s findings in study 1?
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