rusbult's investment model

Question 1

what is rusbult’s investment model

Answer 1

• a development of the social exchange theory
• based on the idea that couples stay together even if the costs outweigh the rewards, so other factors must keep them together
• theres 3 factors that lead to commitment: satisfaction, comparison with alternatives and investment size

Question 2

commitment

Answer 2

• the desire to remain a couple and the intention to have a future together
• it acts as a maintenance factor, despite difficult times they don’t want their own investments to go to waste to they stay together given the commitment they both made

Question 3

satisfaction

Answer 3

• based on the comparison level in social exchange theory
• people will have more satisfaction if they get more rewards (companionship, attention) and less costs (time, arguments)
• satisfaction is measured by weighing the positive against the negative, and by assessing the 3 key factors

Question 4

comparison with alternatives

Answer 4

• a judgement made to assess if they could receive greater satisfaction by ending the relationships
• they are committed if they feel there is no better alternative to satisfy their needs

Question 5

investment

Answer 5

• the most important factor that maintains commitment
• the resources people will lose if they leave the relationship
• the bigger the investment, the more likely people are to stay in the relationship

Question 6

what is intrinsic investment

Answer 6

the things put directly into the relationship, such as effort, money, time and self disclosure

Question 7

what is extrinsic investment

Answer 7

the things brought to people lives through the relationship, such as children and friends

Question 8

impett, beals and peplau (2002)

Answer 8

did a longitudinal study of 3627 married couples over 18 months ranged ages 17-79. they found the 3 factors were all important factors for determining commitment. marriage stability was positively correlated with commitment

Question 9

rhahgan and axsom (2006)

Answer 9

interviews a group of women in a women refuge about why they stayed in an abusive relationship, they found the 3 factors were part of their decision. the highest level of commitment was in women who felt their investment was high and their economic alternatives low

Question 10

give a strength of the investment model
1/2

Answer 10

explains why people stay in abusive relationships. the model says if they feel their investment will be lost if they leave, they’ll stay even if costs (abuse) are high and rewards are low. rusbult and maltz (1995) studied ‘battered women’ and found they were more likely to return to abuse if they felt they had invested into the relationship and they had no good alternatives. the investment model is able to explain relationships that the equity theory and SET were unable to, which increases its validity as an explanation for relationships, and its applicability to everyday couples

Question 11

give a strength of the investment model
2/2

Answer 11

supported by le and agnew’s meta analysis. they looked at 53 studies, composed of 60 independent samples and over 11000 participants from the late 70s to late 90s, across 5 counties, each study researched the investment theories main components. le and agnew found satisfaction, investment and comparison with alternatives all correlated significantly with commitment to the relationship, the strongest being between satisfaction and commitment. these results were true for men and women, heterosexual and homosexual couples cross culturally. this study increases the validity of the investment model as an explanation for relationships, and its claim that these 3 factors are important for all couples, highlighting its universality and applicability to all relationships

Question 12

give a limitation of the investment model
1/2

Answer 12

most research is correlational, so psychologists can’t conclude that investment causes commitment, it may be that commitment causes investment. this limits the models predictive validity as it cannot predict what types and how much investment is needed for long term commitment. this also makes the model less scientifically rigorous.

Question 13

give a limitation of the investment model
2/2

Answer 13

potential methodological issues studying the investment model. most evidence comes from self report techniques which are subjective and unreliable. can lead to social desirability bias or demand characteristics. limits validity of research as we can’t be certain that results represent the concept being investigated

counter: other researchers argue because the 3 factors are subjective themselves and relies on the individuals perception, using self report is an appropriate way to assess the investment model. data gained may give a realistic view of reasons for satisfaction, making the model more valid as an explanation of relationships