Theories of Romantic Relationships: Rusbult's Investment Model AO3

Question 1

Why does Rusbult’s Model have good real-life application?

Answer 1

It’s a valid and useful in explaining relationships involving innate partner violence (IPV)

Question 2

Who conducted research into IPV as a part of Rusbult’s Model? What did they find?

Answer 2

Rusbult and Martz - studied ‘battered women’ at shelters and found that those most likely to return to their abusive partners reported making the greatest investment

Question 3

Who provided supporting evidence for Rusbult’s Model? What was their procedure?

Answer 3

Agnew et al - conducted a meta-analysis and found that satisfaction, comparison with alt and investment size all predicted relationship commitment; findings generalisable between gender, culture and sexual orientations

Question 3

Who provided supporting evidence for Rusbult’s Model? What was their procedure?

Answer 3

Agnew et al - conducted a meta-analysis and found that satisfaction, comparison with alt and investment size all predicted relationship commitment; findings generalisable between gender, culture and sexual orientations

Question 4

Rusbult’s Model oversimplifies investment, how?

Answer 4

Goodfriend and Agnew pointed out that there is more to invest than the resources you have already. Rusbult’s model was extended into including investment into future plans as they motivate commitment.
Therefore, the model is limited b/c it fails to recognise the true complexity of investment.