theories of romantic relationships: Equity theory Flashcards
What does equity theory propose about fairness in romantic relationships?
Equity theory (Walster et al., 1978) emphasizes fairness in relationships rather than equality:
• Equity occurs when both partners’ profit (rewards minus costs) is roughly the same.
• Inequity arises when one partner:
• Overbenefits: Receives more rewards with fewer costs.
• Likely feels guilt, discomfort, and shame.
• Underbenefits: Receives fewer rewards but incurs more costs.
• Likely feels anger, hostility, resentment, and humiliation.
• Satisfaction = Perceived fairness.
• Conclusion: Inequity leads to dissatisfaction and unhappiness, making balance critical in maintaining relationship satisfaction.
How does equity differ from equality in relationships, and how can equity be achieved?
In equity theory, the focus is not on equality (equal rewards and costs) but on fairness.
• It’s about the ratio of rewards and costs for each partner.
• Example: If one partner invests a lot into the relationship but receives much in return, equity exists.
• Compensations:
• Equity may be achieved through compensations when one partner works night shifts, and the other compensates in other ways.
• Negotiations:
• Satisfying relationships involve negotiating trade-offs to ensure rewards are distributed fairly.
Conclusion: Successful relationships are marked by perceived fairness, even if the rewards and costs are not equal.
What are the effects of inequity in relationships according to equity theory?
Inequity occurs when one partner contributes more but receives less, leading to dissatisfaction.
• Impact of Inequity:
• The greater the perceived inequity, the greater the dissatisfaction.
• There is a strong correlation between inequity and dissatisfaction for both underbenefitted and overbenefitted partners.
• Changes Over Time:
• At the start of a relationship, it may feel natural to put in more effort than you receive.
• Over time, if this pattern continues, the relationship becomes less satisfying.
Conclusion: The longer inequity persists, the more dissatisfied both partners feel.
How do partners respond to inequity in relationships?
Partners typically respond to inequity in two ways:
1. Behavioral Response:
• The underbenefitted partner works harder to restore equity.
• The harder they work to fix the imbalance, the more dissatisfied they may become if the relationship does not improve.
2. Cognitive Response:
• Partners change their perceptions of rewards and costs.
• Example: Behaviors once seen as inequitable (e.g., thoughtlessness, untidiness, or abuse) may be reinterpreted and accepted as the norm.
Conclusion: The response to inequity depends on whether the partner believes it is possible to restore fairness.
Research Support and Counterpoint
Research Support: Mary Utne et al. (1984) surveyed 118 recently married couples (aged 16–45 years, married over two years).
Couples who saw their relationship as equitable were more satisfied than those who felt they were overbenefitting or underbenefitting.
This supports equity theory, which links equity to relationship satisfaction.
Counterpoint: Daniel Berg and Kristen McQuinn (1986) found that equity did not increase satisfaction over time.
Relationships that ended and those that continued did not differ significantly in terms of equity.
Self-disclosure was found to be significantly more important than equity.
This undermines the validity of equity theory, as equity may not be a key factor in relationship satisfaction.
Cultural Limitations
Katherine Aumer-Ryan et al. (2007) found cultural differences in how equity links to satisfaction.
Individualist cultures (e.g., US): Relationships were most satisfying when equitable.
Collectivist cultures (e.g., Jamaica): Satisfaction was highest when individuals were overbenefitting.
Gender differences could not explain these findings, as they were consistent across men and women.
Key Limitation: Equity theory may not universally apply to all cultures, limiting its generalizability.
Individual Differences
Richard Huseman et al. (1987) suggest that not all individuals in relationships are equally concerned about equity.
Benevolents: These individuals contribute more than they receive without concern for imbalance.
Entitleds: These individuals feel they deserve to overbenefit without distress or guilt.
Such differences mean the importance of equity varies between individuals.
Key Limitation: Equity is not a universal feature of romantic relationships, and people’s perceptions of fairness differ.
