Theories Of Romantic Relationships Flashcards
1
Q
What is social exchange theory and explain how it links to open at conditioning
A
- an economic theory
- relationships run in a similar way to businesses- people are haggling in order to get the best deal
- based on the principles of open at conditioning- form and maintain relationships because they are rewarding- profitable
- if it ends it will stop being profitable be chase the costs outweigh the rewards
- relationships run like a balance sheet- partners are always trying to maximise their rewards and limit their costs
2
Q
What does satisfactory depend on
A
- depends on the outcome
- ‘balance of rewards and costs’
- a successful relationship is profitable because the rewards outweigh the costs
3
Q
What is the comparison level
A
- we develop a standard which we compare all our relationships against
- based on all of our experiences plus our views that we expect someone to fulfil
- if we judge the relationship to exceed our CL the relationship will be judged as worthwhile
- if the outcome is negative we will be dissatisfied
4
Q
What is a comparison for alternatives
A
- we weigh up a potential increase in rewards from a potential partner minus any costs involved in ending our current relationship
5
Q
What are the 4 stages that all relationships go through
A
- sampling
- bargaining
- commitment
- institutionalisation
6
Q
What is the sampling stage
A
- rewards and costs are assessed in a number of relationships
7
Q
What is the bargaining stage
A
- a relationship is costed out and sources of profit and loss are identified
8
Q
What is the commitment stage
A
- relationship is established and maintained by a predictable exchange of rewards
9
Q
What is institutionalisation stage
A
- interactions are established and the couple settle down
10
Q
Main case study for social exchange theory
A
- rusbult and hartz
- investigated 100 women staying a women’s refuge
- all had been abused by their partners
- measured their commitment factors( length of relationship), independence factors( education/number of children), satisfactory( severity/ attribute of blame)
- 1/3 did not return
- 1/3 immediately returned
- 1/3 did return after some time
- women had felt the greatest commitment to their relationship when their economic alternatives were poor and investment were great
11
Q
Evaluation of the theory
A
:( does not take equity into account
- this says that people not looking for a relationship in which they can over benefit, but in which the rewards for both parties are equal
:( difficult to quantify what rewards and costs are
- they are subjective and unique to each person
:( most of the research is artificial
:( inappropriate assumptions underlying the SET
-
12
Q
What is equity theory
A
- another economic theory
- developed in response to significant criticisms of SET
- ‘equity’ means fairness in this sense
- what matters most is that both partners profit levels are the same
13
Q
What if a relationship in unequal
A
- cause distress
- happens when one person gives a great deal and gets little in return (inequality)
- same is true for the other way around
- over benefiting and under benefiting are both examples of inequality
- under benefiting partner will feel the greatest dissatisfied
14
Q
What are the perceived ratios of inputs and outputs
A
- inequity doesn’t mean inequality
- two people can put in various amounts and still maintain equity
- person holds subjective views on the relative inputs and outputs of themselves and their partner
- if we fear inequity might try and change our inputs and outputs
- it’s not the size that matters it’s the ratio
15
Q
What is profit
A
- rewards are maximised and costs are minimised
16
Q
What is distribution
A
- trade-offs and compensations are negotiated to achieve fairness in a relationship
17
Q
What is dissatisfaction
A
- the greater the degree of perceived unfairness, the greater the sense of dissatisfaction
18
Q
What is realignment
A
- if restoring equity is possible, maintenance will continue, with attempts made to realign equity
19
Q
What are the consequences of inequity
A
- problems arise when one partner puts in great amount and gets nothing back
- the partner who gets nothing will get distressed and dissatisfied with the relationship
- the greater the perceived inequity, the greater the dissatisfaction
- equity theory predicts a strong correlation between the two
20
Q
General evaluation
A
:( ‘economic’ theories only apply to western relationships and even then only short-term relationships among individuals with high mobility
:( individual differences
- not all people in a relationship are concerned with equity
- some people don’t care and enjoy it
:) practical applications
- can be used to advance the effectiveness of relationship counselling
21
Q
What is rusbults investment model and what does a relationship depend on
A
- a relationship depends on- satisfactory level, comparison with alternatives and investment size
- the investment model is a development of the social exchange theory
22
Q
What is satisfaction
A
- the extent to which people in a relationship believe that the rewards outweigh the costs of a relationship
23
Q
What is comparison with alternative levels
A
- we weigh up a potential increase in rewards from a potential partner, minus any costs involved in ending the current relationship
24
Q
What is investment size
A
- CL and CLalt are not enough to explain commitment in a relationship
- when people decide whether to end a relationship they weigh up the rewards and costs but they also consider how much they have invested into a relationship
25
What are intrinsic investments
- things you have put into the relationship directly
| - time, money and emotions
26
Extrinsic investments
- things which were unrelated but have been connected to the relationship
- mutual friends, children and shared pets
27
Satisfaction versus commitment
- main psychological reason that people stay in a relationship is commitment
- important distinction because it can explain why dissatisfied partners will stay in a relationship
- committed to their partner
28
Why are they do committed
- made an investment that they do not want to see go to waste
- work hard to maintain and repair the relationship
29
Evaluation of rusbults study
- large sample size
- low population validity
- :( self report method
:( study done in 1980
:( questionnaire
:( only done in USA
30
General evaluation
:) can explain abusive relationships
- rusbult and martz applied investment model to abusive relationships
- women had felt greatest commitment to their relationship when their investment was great
:) methodological strengths
- most of evidence relies on self report questionnaire
- most appropriate method to be used not objective
:) strong correlations have been found
:( correlation doesn't mean causation
31
Ducks phase model
- relationships are complex and breakdown due to their formation and maintenance
- the end of relationships indicate that they are available for other people now
- ducks model states that the end of a relationship each partners creates a breakup study which leaves them in a good light so they can ensure that they gain a future partner
32
What is the intrapsychic phase
- " I can't stand this anymore"
- focus on partners behaviour
- keep it to yourself or express dissatisfaction
- consider costs of withdrawal
33
What is the dyadic phase
- "I'd be justified in withdrawing"
- confront partner
- attempts to repair the relationship
- assess joint costs of withdrawal or reduce intimacy
34
What is the social phase
- " I mean it"
- consider and face up to social network effects
- indicate gossip within the group
- negotiate post-dissolution state with partner
35
What is the grave dressing stage
- "it's now inevitable"
- perform 'getting over' activities
- publicly distribute own version of break up
36
A
| General evaluation for why relationships breakdown
:( incomplete model
- original was overly simple
- added a fifth stage p- resurrection stage
- partners evaluate the relationship and asses how a new relationship could work to address the problems of the old
:( descriptive rather than explanatory
- only focuses on the breakdown of a relationship
- says nothing about how or why the relationship got to the point of breakdown
:( method issues
- most of the research done is retrospective
- what people can recall about a relationship might not always be accurate or reliable
- impossible to test this phase of process
:( culture bias
- studies conducted on western cultures
- ignores collectivist cultures with arranged marriages
- so relationship breakdown will be different here
