Theories of Romantic Relationships- Rusbult's Investment Model of Commitment Flashcards
What is the investment model of commitment?
Satisfaction, alternatives, investments
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Commitment level
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Future stay or leave decision
What is meant by satisfaction?
The degree of which the partners needs are met
What is meant by comparison with alternatives?
- Looking at whether the relationship stands up to other possible alternatives
- Commitment to the relationship is stronger if the needs are adequately met
What is meant by investment size?
- How many resources the relationship has
- The longer the relationship continues the more the partners have invested into it
- The more invested, the stronger the commitment is
- Ending the relationship would make the investment useless
- Can be intrinsic or extrinsic
What maintenance behaviours did Rusbult suggest that commitment expresses itself in?
- Accommodation
- Willingness to sacrifice
- Forgiveness
- Positive illusions
- Ridiculing alternatives
How does commitment express itself in accommodation?
Partners don’t engage in tit for tat retaliation but instead promote the relationship
How does commitment express itself in willingness to sacrifice?
Putting the partners interests first
How does commitment express itself in forgiveness?
Forgiving partners for serious transgressions
If the point is:
A weakness of Rusbult’s investment model of commitment is that some psychologists suggest there are problems when measuring the key variables involved within the model.
What is the evidence, explanation and link?
Evidence- For example, satisfaction and alternatives
Explanation- Investment is hard to measure. Time can be an indicator, but if it was just time alone then it wouldn’t explain why relationships break down after long periods of investment, such as 20/30 year long relationships.
Link- Therefore, this draws into question how the model can be accurately researched and why it is hard to define the key concept.
If the point is:
A strength of Rustbult’s investment model of commitment is that there is research evidence that supports the theory that investment in relationships leads to increased commitment from partners.
What is the evidence and link?
Evidence- Le and Agnew conducted 137 studies involving 38000 participants from the UK, USA, Netherlands, Israel and Taiwan. They found that satisfaction and commitment levels were at 0.68, investment and commitment levels were at 0.46 and alternatives levels were at 0.48.
Link- This implies that the model is correct, due to the strong positive correlation of investment leading to commitment.
If the point is:
A weakness of Rusbult’s investment model of commitment is that it has some methodological issues and it has been said that the model oversimplifies the idea of investment.
What is the explanation, evidence and link?
Explanation- This is due to the fact that the model fails to consider future investment.
Evidence- Goodfriend and Agnew argue that future investment is an important factor, such as buying a house together or starting a family. Hence, some relationships persist due to faith in future plans.
Link- This suggests that the model fails to include planned investment, limiting its explanatory power to explain types of relationships.
If the point is:
A strength of Rusbult’s investment model of commitment is that it can help to explain why people may stay in abusive relationships.
What is the explanation, evidence and link?
Explanation- This is because, although a relationship may be low in satisfaction, other models such as social exchange theory would say that the relationship would end. However, they cannot explain why the satisfaction is low but the relationship continues.
Evidence- But, Rusbult’s investment model can explain this as, although satisfaction may be low, there is too much invested in the relationship.
Link- This implies that Rusbult’s investment model is a credible theory which maintains high explanatory power.
What are the evaluation points for Rusbult’s model of commitment?
— Some psychologists suggest there are problems measuring the key variables involved in the theory
+ Research evidence that supports the theory that investment in relationships leads to increased commitment from partners
— Has some theoretical issues and it has been said that the model oversimplifies the idea of investment
+ Can help to explain why people may stay in abusive relationships whereas other theories have failed to do so
