Social exchange theory

Question 1

Who proposed the social exchange theory?

Answer 1

Thibault and Kelley (1959)

Question 2

What is the fundamental belief of social exchange theory?

Answer 2

People judge relationship satisfaction in terms of profits, costs and rewards
-minimise losses, maximise gains

Question 3

What are examples of costs in a relationship according to Blau (1964)?

Answer 3

• time
• stress
• energy
• compromise

Question 4

How do we measure profits in a romantic relationship?

Answer 4

• comparison level (amount of reward we think we deserve based on previous relationships)
• comparison level for alternatives (costs and rewards of current relationship compared to alternative relationships including no relationship)

Question 5

What did Duck (1994) say about the CLalt?

Answer 5

if the current relationship is satisfactory in terms of rewards the individual would not be assessing alternatives

Question 6

What did Argyle (1987) claim about the cause and effect of SET?

Answer 6

• we do not constantly measure rewards and costs in a relationship
• do not constantly assess alternatives unless already dissatisfied

Question 7

What is SET said to ignore?

Answer 7

• Fairness and equity
• research shows that fairness is more important than just rewards and costs
• means that it is a limited theory

Question 8

A03-measurability

Answer 8

• rewards and costs are hard to quantify and subjective

- what is a significant reward for one person may be insignificant to another

Question 9

What is a problem with research supporting SET?

Answer 9

• most research support comes from artificial studies eg. strangers working together on a game
• more realistic studies have been less supportive of SET