Rusbult's investment model

Question 1

according to Rusbult et al. (2011), commitment depends on which 3 factors?

Answer 1

satisfaction,
comparison with alternatives,
investment.

Question 2

the investment model is a development of what?

Answer 2

the SET

Question 3

what is satisfaction?

Answer 3

the extent to which romantic partners feel the rewards of a relationship exceed the costs.

Question 4

satisfaction is based on the concept of what?

Answer 4

comparison level

Question 5

partners are generally satisfied if …

Answer 5

… they are getting more out of the relationship than they expected based on previous experiences and social norms.

Question 6

what is comparison with alternatives?

Answer 6

a judgement that partners make concerning whether a relationship with a diff. partner could bring more rewards and fewer costs.

Question 7

what does someone ask themselves when comparing with alternatives?

Answer 7

is the grass greener elsewhere?

could my needs be better met outside of my current relationship?

are the alternatives more rewarding and less costly?

would no relationship be better?

Question 8

what is an investment?

Answer 8

the resources associated with a romantic relationship which partners would lose if there relationship were to end?

Question 9

why did Rusbult propose investment?

Answer 9

he realised the comparison with alternatives and commitment were not enough to explain commitment. If they were, many relationships would end as soon as the costs outweigh the rewards, yet this doesn’t happen.

Question 10

what are the 2 types of investment?

Answer 10

intrinsic,

extrinsic.

Question 11

what is an intrinsic investment?

Answer 11

any resource that is put directly into a relationship.

these can be tangible things such as money and possessions.

they could also be intangible things such as energy, emotion and self-disclosures.

Question 12

what is an extrinsic investment?

Answer 12

resources that previously didn’t feature in the relationship but are now closely associated with it.

tangibles include possessions brought together (e.g. car), mutual friends and children.

an example of an intangible is shared memories.

Question 13

put all of the factors that influence commitment together:

Answer 13

if partners in a relationship experience high levels of satisfaction (many rewards, few costs), and the alternatives are less attractive, and the sizes of their investments are increasing, then we can predict that they are in a committed relationship.

Question 14

what is the main psych factor that causes people to stay in a relationship?

Answer 14

commitment

Question 15

what is the contributory factor that causes people to stay in a relationship?

Answer 15

satisfaction.

Question 16

commitment as the main psych factor and satisfaction as the contributory factor can explain why dissatisfied people stay in a relationship. How does it explain this?

Answer 16

they are committed to their partner.

Question 17

why are people in a dissatisfying relationship so committed?

Answer 17

because they have made an investment that they don’t want to see go to waste. Therefore they will work hard to maintain and repair a damaged relationship, especially when it hits a rough patch.

Question 18

what are the relationship maintenance mechanisms?

Answer 18

accommodation - partners don’t engage in tit-for-tat retaliation but instead promote the relationship.

willingness to sacrifice - put their partners interest first

forgiveness - forgive them for serious transgressions

positive illusions - unrealistically positive about their partner

ridiculing alternatives - negative about tempting alternatives and other peoples relationships.