theories of romantic relationships - equity

Question 1

what is the equity theory?

Answer 1

An economic model based on fairness for each partner

Emphasises need for each partner to experience a balance between their cost/effort and their benefit/reward

Inequality = dissatisfaction
Over-benefitting → guilt, comfort shame

Under-benefitting → anger, hostility and humiliation

Question 2

what is the difference between equity and equality?

Answer 2

• Equity is giving everyone what they need to be successful.
• Equality is treating everyone the same. Equality aims to promote fairness, but it can only work if everyone starts from the same place (unlikely).

Question 3

what are the 4 principles of equity provided by Walster?

Answer 3

1. profit= Rewards are maximised and costs minimised
2. distribution = Trade-offs and compensations negotiated
3. dissatisfaction = < unfairness = < dissatisfaction
4. realignment = Attempts made to realign equity

Question 4

what are the positive evaluations of the equity theory?

Answer 4

• There is research evidence to support the role of EQUITY in romantic relationships
  For example Dainton – studied 219 individuals in romantic relationships and found that people who had perceived inequity had low satisfaction in their relationship. However, most individuals were actually motivated to return to an equitable state
  This suggests that equity has a major influence over a romantic r/ship as research such as credibility to the theory
• Another positive is that EQUITY theory has cross cultural support
  For example, Yum et al researched cultural differences in 6 different cultures. While there were little differences between cultures, Yum found that equitable couples performed the most maintenance strategies in all cultures suggesting it takes a lot of effort to keep a relationship equitable.
  The next group who performed the most maintenance strategies were the over-benefitters, followed by the under-benefitters.
  This implies that the concept of Equity has high population validity in various cultures so it could be considered universal in explaining maintenance strategies.
• There are practical applications for society that result from this theory
  For example, using this theory can help develop couples therapy to focus on the FAIRNESS in R/ships. Where counsellors can use this knowledge of how relationship dynamics work to help couples to identify the areas of inequity that they perceive and aim to help make the couples reflect on what would make the relationship more equitable again
  This implies EQUITY theory can be very instrumental in identifying how to maintain r’ships and help couples struggling in their relationship to have a chance to save them and avoid relationship breakdown.

Question 5

what are the negative evaluations for the equity theory?

Answer 5

• One of the problems of the equity theory is that it neglects to consider individual differences in R/ships for instance, not all partners in R/ships are concerned about achieving equity.
  Huesmann et al (1987) suggest that some people are less concerned about equity than the ‘norm’. They describe some partners as benevolents who are prepared to contribute more to the relationship than they get out of it (underbenefit). Others are entitled who believe they deserve to overbenefit and accept it without feeling distressed or guilty. In both cases such individuals have less concern about equity than the theory predicts.
  This suggests EQUITY Theory may be limiting as it does not consider that a desire for equality varies from one individual to another so ignores dispositional characteristics and is not a universal feature of romantic relationship
• There are however cause and effect issues with this theory. Although inequity and dissatisfaction are linked its merely correlational
  Clark (1984) argue most people in R/ships do not immediately think in terms of rewards and equity because if they do the R/ships is in trouble.
  Perhaps another variable mediates this relationship - such as being jealous or having a loss of investment - these factors may force you to think about the FAIRNESS in a R/ship
  THIS IMPLIES that we must be open to other factors outside inequity and dissatisfaction that may help feeling of unfairness in a relationship. This theory could therefore be considered to have theoretical flaws when applied to real life relationships.