The Investment Model of Relationships Flashcards
What is satisfaction level in the investment model
The level of positive versus negative emotions experienced within a relationship and is influenced by the extent to which the other person fulfils the individual’s most important needs
What three factors contribute to someone being committed to their current relationship in the investment model
Satisfaction to current relationship, their investment in the relationship and a lack of alternatives
What is quality of alternatives in the investment model
The extent to which a persons most important needs might be fulfilled by someone outside of the relationship. Attractive alternatives are not always other people, it can be having no relationship
What is investment size in the investment model
Rusbult suggested that investment size is a measure of all the resources that are attached to the relationship and which would diminish in value or be completely lost if the relationship were to end.
Why are investments made
They are made expecting that they will create a strong foundation for a lasting future together. They increase dependence on a relationship because they increase connections that a partner would have to break, making breaking them more costly
What is commitment level in the investment model
It describes the likelyhood that an involvement will persist. This is high in partners who are happy in their relationship and have high levels of loss if they leave the relationship. Due to the ever increasing investment in relationships, commitment is a consequece of dependecy on a relationship
What was the procedure of Le and Agnew’s meta-analysis into investment
Carried out a meta-analysis of 52 studies, with a sample of over 11,000 people from 5 countries. Measured the different components of the investment model and the relationship between them
What were the findings of Le and Agnew’s study
Satisfaction level, quality of alternatives and investment size were highly correlated with relationship commitment. However the correlation between satisfaction level and commitment compared to the other two measures was much higher
Who did a meta analysis on the elements in the investment model and got incredibly predictable outcomes
Le and Agnew
Why is there an issue with measuring the variables in the investment model (eval)
It is difficult to measure commitment and other factors that lead to it, such as quality of alternatives. Rusbult developed the “Investment Model Scale” to overcome this problem, finding the scale to be high in both reliability and validity in the measurement of these variables. However even this scale relies on self-report measures, which often have problems with respondents wanting to present themselves in a good light, raising possible bias
How can this model explain real world abusive relationships (eval)
Victims of partner abuse experience low satisfaction, which could lead us to predict they would leave an abusive partner, yet despite this many stay. The investment model highlights possible reasons for this, for example, lack of alternatives to the relationship or may have too much invested with that partner, making dissolution too costly. Real life studies of battered women at shelters revealed that lack of alternatives and investments were a strong indication of whether or not they would return to their partner
Why does the investment model fail to account for the future (eval)
Goodfriend and Agnew suggest that investment should not only include things that have already been invested, but also plans that partners have made regarding the relationship. In ending the relationship, the individual would lose the possibility of achieving these plans. Therefore some relationships persist, not because of current balance of investments but because of a motivation to see cherished future plans occur
Who suggested that investments could also be in the future
Goodfriend and Agnew
Why is there wide application of the investment model (eval)
It’s claims have been shown to be true across many different populations and different types of relationship (obviously because they are basic af), for example research has supported it’s relavance in diffirent cultures, such as the US, Netherlands and Taiwan, as well as across different populations, such as marital and non-marital, LGBT relationships, friendships and abusive relationships. Even virtual relationships, with Li confirming that the relationship between the three investment model predictors existed on WeChat, with investment being particularly predictive of commitment
Who found the investment model works online
Li
