Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Relationships > Theories Of Romantic Relationships > Flashcards

Theories Of Romantic Relationships Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Conversation Starters 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
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the 4 stages that all relationships go through

A
  • sampling
  • bargaining
  • commitment
  • institutionalisation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the sampling stage

A
  • rewards and costs are assessed in a number of relationships
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the bargaining stage

A
  • a relationship is costed out and sources of profit and loss are identified
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the commitment stage

A
  • relationship is established and maintained by a predictable exchange of rewards
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is institutionalisation stage

A
  • interactions are established and the couple settle down
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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
-

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is profit

A
  • rewards are maximised and costs are minimised
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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
Q

What are intrinsic investments

A
  • things you have put into the relationship directly

- time, money and emotions

26
Q

Extrinsic investments

A
  • things which were unrelated but have been connected to the relationship
  • mutual friends, children and shared pets
27
Q

Satisfaction versus commitment

A
  • 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
Q

Why are they do committed

A
  • made an investment that they do not want to see go to waste
  • work hard to maintain and repair the relationship
29
Q

Evaluation of rusbults study

A
  • large sample size
  • low population validity
  • :( self report method
    :( study done in 1980
    :( questionnaire
    :( only done in USA
30
Q

General evaluation

A

:) 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
Q

Ducks phase model

A
  • 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
Q

What is the intrapsychic phase

A
  • ” I can’t stand this anymore”
  • focus on partners behaviour
  • keep it to yourself or express dissatisfaction
  • consider costs of withdrawal
33
Q

What is the dyadic phase

A
  • “I’d be justified in withdrawing”
  • confront partner
  • attempts to repair the relationship
  • assess joint costs of withdrawal or reduce intimacy
34
Q

What is the social phase

A
  • ” I mean it”
  • consider and face up to social network effects
  • indicate gossip within the group
  • negotiate post-dissolution state with partner
35
Q

What is the grave dressing stage

A
  • “it’s now inevitable”
  • perform ‘getting over’ activities
  • publicly distribute own version of break up
36
Q

A

General evaluation for why relationships breakdown

A

:( 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

Relationships (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions