The Investment Model (Rusbult 1980) Flashcards
Explain investment model
Attempts to explain why ppl persist in some R n not others.
What were Rusbults factors which predicted chances of one being committed to a R:
Satisfaction lvl. +ive qualities which attract one person to another.
Investment
Quality of alternatives.
Satisfaction lvls
+ive n -ive emotions exp in R. & influenced by extent to which the other person fulfils the inds most important needs.
Quality of alternatives
Extent to which an inds most important needs might be better fulfilled outside the current R.
But if alternates aren’t present , ind may persist w a R due to lack of better options.
Investment size
Rusbult:’satisfaction lvl isn’t enough for commitment’
When ppl decide to end a R they consider C&B but also their investment lvl. (Anything person puts into a R will be lost if they leave.
Commitment lvl
So:
If partners in R experience high satisfaction, alts are less attractive AND investment into R is inc. we can conclude the partners will be committed to the R.
Investment types:
Intrinsic +extrinsic
Intrinsic
Resource put directly into the R. E.g. money, possessions, energy
Extrinsic
Resources that didn’t feature before but are now closely associated e.g. mutual, memories
R maintenance mechanisms
Accommodation
Forgiveness
+ive illusion
AO3: + ecol val
High ecological val. as it easily explains abusive R.
Shifts focus from satisfaction to to investment.
More valid than SET.
AO3: + culture bias avoided
Study supported by meta analysis:
P: 11000 ppts half male n female
From 5 diff countries: USA,Netherlands, Israel, Taiwan
F: quality of alts + inv. size has high correlation. Also high correlation in stay or leave n commitment.
Avoids culture bias. Study isn’t westernised
But data is being relied on exps he didn’t conduct so rel & val cannot be restested.
