The maintenance of relationships Flashcards
What is the social exchange theory?
Social behaviour is viewed as a series of exchanges between individuals. Each partner attempts to maximise their rewards and minimise their costs. The ‘exchange’ part of this process is that when individuals receive “rewards” from others, they feel obliged to reciprocate.
What is the four stage model of long-term relationships according to Thibaut and Kelley?
- Sampling- The couple explores the rewards and costs in a variety of relationships.
- Bargaining- The couple “costs out” the relationship and identifies the sources of profit and loss.
- Commitment- The couple settles into a relationship, the exchange of rewards becomes relatively predictable.
- Institutionalisation- The interactions are established, the couple have “settled down”.
What comparisons can you make during a relationship?
The comparison level is when we compare the costs and rewards in our current relationship with the costs and rewards we have experienced in past relationship (with our ex-partners). If the current relationship compares favourably, we are motivated to stay in the relationship.
Alternatives could be the possible benefits of an alternative relationship. We compare the outcomes of the current relationship with others that we could chose to be in.
A02 evidence- What did Clark and Mills find on two types of couples?
They identified two types of couples, the communal couple and the exchange couple. In the communal couple, concern and positive regard for the other motivates giving. In the exchange couple there is the kind of score-keeping predicted by social exchange theory.
What is the equity theory?
Equity theory assumes that people strive to achieve fairness in their relationships, and feel distressed if they perceive unfairness. Inequity= the path to dissatisfaction.
People who contribute a great deal to their relationship and get little in return will perceive inequity in their relationship.
As long as ‘loser’ feels there is a chance of restoring fairness and is motivated to save the relationship, he or she will endeavour to re-establish equity.
A02 evidence- What Prins find on gender differences in Dutch couples?
Found that among Dutch couples, inequity in a relationship had different consequences for males and females. Males who perceived inequity in their relationship did not express the desire to have an affair and nor did they report they had done so. Women, however, where more likely to respond to perceived inequity in their relationships by considering and extra- marital affair.
What did Moghaddam say about cultural bias on the theories?
Moghaddam argued that the emphasis on exchange and equity is a reflection of the dominant values of North America, where these theories of social relationships were developed. They claim that these theories reflect the highly individualistic, capitalist and protestant work ethic of North America.
What are the three points of Rusbult’s model of relationships?
- Satisfaction- whether they fell happy in the relationship or not.
- Quality of alternatives- another relationship where they may feel happier or no relationship at all.
- Investment- anything a person puts into a relationship which will be lost if they leave it.
What evidence did Rusbult find on college students in relationships?
She asked college students in heterosexual relationships to complete questionnaires over a 7-month period. They kept notes about how satisfactory their relationships were, how they compared to possible alternatives and how much they had invested in it. They also noted how committed they felt to the relationship. Results showed that satisfaction, comparison and investment all contributed to commitment and to breakup. High satisfaction and investment are important in committed relationships.
What Le and Agnew find in their meta-analysis?
This was a meta analysis of 52 studies and over 11,000 pps carried out between 1970 and 1999. Studies were taken from 5 countries. Results showed that all three factors were influential over ‘stay or leave’ behaviour and no gender differences were found. Satisfaction was the most powerful predictor. However, there were some sexuality differences. Gay men were less influential by investment and lesbians were more influential over quality of alternatives.
What did Rusbult and Martz find with commitment in abusive relationships?
They asked women living in refuges why they had stayed with partners rather than leaving as soon as the abuse began. As predicted by Rusbult’s model, women had felt the greatest commitment to the relationship when their economic alternatives were poor and when their investment was great.