Theories Of Romantic Relationships - Equity Theory (relationships)

Question 1

What is equity theory?

Answer 1

Walster et al - criticises social exchange theory, believes individuals within a relationship aim to achieve fairness.

Equity is a subjective opinion within a relationship - what partners believe is fair.

It’s not the size of the costs or profits that matter = its the ratio between them
-> e.g if a partner puts in more and gets more out = equitable

Question 2

What may happen if a partner is over benefiting?

Answer 2

The partner may feel emotions, such as guilt, discomfort or shame -> then become distressed/dissatisfied in the relationship

The greater the perceived inequity, the greater the dissatisfaction: equity theory predicts a strong correlation between the two.

Question 3

What may happen if a partner is under benefiting?

Answer 3

The partner may feel emotions, such as anger, hostility, resentment and humiliation -> then become distressed/dissatisfied in the relationship

The greater the perceived inequity, the greater the dissatisfaction: equity theory predicts a strong correlation between the two.

Question 4

What is changes in perceived equity?

Answer 4

Where at the beginning it may feel natural to contribute more than u profit, but if the relationship develops in a way where this is continuous = become dissatisfied

Question 5

How is inequity dealt with?

Answer 5

Restoring Actual Equity - (Behavioural), where the ‘put-upon’ partner will work harder to make relationship more equitable, the more unfair = the harder they work

Restoring Psychological Equity- (Cognitive), will revise perceptions of costs and profits to make it seem more equitable, e.g costs = now viewed as norm

If unable to restore equity = can leave

Question 6

Evaluations

Answer 6

+ More valid than Social Exchange - Uthe et al, self report scales - 118 recently married couples aged 16-45 who had been together more than 2 years before marriage.
-> Found couples who considered relationship equitable = more satisfied than those over/under benefiting

• Not all concerned with achieving equity - Huseman et al, some partners are benevolents = prepared to contribute more than they profit and some partners are entitleds = believe they deserve to be over benefiting + dont feel guilt
  -> lack ecological validity, due to individual differences
• Cultural Differences - Aumer-Ryan et al, in individualistic cultures = partners more satisfied when equitable, however in collectivist cultures = partners more satisfied when one was over benefiting
  -> lack ecological validity