Theories Of Romanctic Relationships: Social Exchange Theory Flashcards
What is the social exchange theory?
A theory of how relationships form and develop, it involves the interaction between two partners each with their own needs and expectations
What does this theory suggests about what partners act out of?
They act out of self-interest in exchanging rewards and costs
What type of individuals an apparently more likely to be satisfied with their relationship and less likely to leave?
Individuals that receive favourable reward/cost outcomes
What does this theory suggests?
Individuals focus on getting out more than they put in?
What did Thibault and Kelley say?
We try to minimise losses and maximise gains (minimax principle)
What does the theory suggest we are attracted to and put off from?
That we are attracted to those who offer rewards (fun, attention, esteem etc) and put off a relationship perceived to involve great costs (time, emotional strain etc)
What does the theory suggest commitment is dependent on?
Commitment to a relationship is dependent on the profitability of this outcome
What are the 2 ways in which we can measure profit in a romantic relationship?
Comparison levels and comparison levels for alternatives
What are comparison levels?
The amount of reward that you believe you deserve to get
Where do these expectations come from?
They develop out of experiences of previous relationships which feed into our expectations of the current one, as well as social norms that are widely considered within a culture such as films, books, TV shows etc
What happens if a new relationship exceeds our CL?
The relationship will be seen as worthwhile, and the other person will be seen as attractive as a partner
What is comparison level of alternatives?
The thought that we could give less but gain more in another relationship or even by ourselves
What are the 4 stages of relationship development?
Sampling stage, bargaining stage, commitment stage and institutional stage
What is the sampling stage?
When we explore rewards and cost of social exchange by experimenting with them in our relationship (not just romantic ones) or by observing others doing so
What is the bargaining stage?
This marks the beginning of a relationship when romantic partners start exchanging various awards and costs negotiating and identifying what is most profitable
What is the commitment stage?
As time goes on the sources of costs and rewards become more predictable and the relationship becomes more stable as the increase and costs decrease
What is the institutionalisation stage?
The partners are now settled down because the norms of the relationship (rewards and costs) are now established
What are the evaluation points for the social exchange theory?
+ Supporting evidence – Sprecher 2001, 101 dating couples in a US university what?
- What consistutes as a cost and a benefit in a relationship is subjective
+ It can explain individual differences in relationships
- Culturally balanced - doesn’t consider arranged marriages
