theories of romantic relationships

Question 1

What are the main assumptions of equity theory? (4)

Answer 1

People want relationships to be fair and equal
Partners need to experience a balance between their rewards and costs>profit is the same
No partner wants to overbenefit (more profit) or underbenefit (less profit)
Fairness=satisfaction
Unfairness=dissatisfaction

Question 2

How will the under benefitting partner feel?
How will the over benefitting partner feel?
Who would feel the most dissatisfaction?

Answer 2

Anger, hostility, resentment
Guilt, discomfort, shame
Under benefitting partner

Question 3

What are 2 ways a partner can deal with inequity?

Answer 3

Work harder to try to restore equity
Cognitiely revise their perceptions of what counts as rewards and costs>makes it seem like its equitable, but nothings really changed

Question 4

A strength of equity theory is that there’s research support
PETF

Answer 4

Psychologists found that couples who considered their relationship equitable>more satisfied than those who reported themselves as under benefitting or overbenefitting
F: Study used self report measures, GOOD THING as we want the persons own thoughts

Question 5

A weakness of equity theory is that there’s culture bias
PET

Answer 5

Individualistic culture- satisfied when equity
Collectivist culture- satisfied when overbenefitting
This cannot be explained through gender differences this was true with men and women
T: Limited theory

Question 6

According to the social exchange theory, what do individuals want to maximise?
How is this achieved?

Answer 6

Profit
Rewards and minimising costs aka Minimax principle