Theories of romantic relationships: Rusbult's investment model

Question 1

What is Rusbult’s Invest Model an extension of?

Answer 1

Rusbult’s investment model is an extension of the social exchnage theory

Question 2

Outline Rusbult’s investment model:
a) the main theme
b) the three factors that affect the main theme
c) what each factor is and what is involved
d) short summary sentence on what the investment model essentially is

Answer 2

Rusbult et al stated that commitment depends on three factors:
1) Satisfaction involves individuals comparing rewards + costs and being satisfied if they are getting more rewards out the relationships than costs

2) Comparisons with alternatives involves individuals questioning whether there would be more benefits in entering a new alternative relationship or no romantic relationship at all

3) Investments refers to anything that would be lost if the relationship ended. Rounded in a couple’s intrinsic and extrinsic investments.
The intrinsic investments being the resources put into the relationship such as money/emotions.
The extrinsic investments being the resources associated with the relationship such as shared property/children

In short, if couples are satisfied, alternatives are not deemed attractive and investments are high, then they are more likely to be strongly committed to the relationship

Question 2

What do couples have to maintain their relationships?

Answer 2

Relationships have maintenance mechanisms

Question 3

What are the 6 maintenance mechanisms for committed couples?

Answer 3

1) Accomodation - when the partners promote the relationship

2) Willingness to Sacrifice - when the partners put each others’ needs first

3) Cognitive element - this is when partners in relationship think about each other and alternative in specific and predictable ways. They are rational about what singleness/alternative relationships would look like

4) Forgiveness - partners able to forgive each other for any serious transgressions

5) Positive illusions - partners are overly and unrealistically positive about their partners

6) Ridiculing alternatives (derogation of alternatives) - partners are negative about tempting alternatives or other people’s relationships, by comparing their relationship to others

Question 4

In a 16 marker, how many of the 6 maintenance mechanisms do you need to write about?

Answer 4

In a 16 marker you can address 3 or 4 of these maintenance mechanisms

Question 5

What is a strength of Rusbult’s investment model? (52 - 11,000 - 5 - 1970+1999)

Answer 5

There is researched support for this model from psychologists, involving a review of 52 studies with 11,000 participants from five countries, in the years 1970s to 1999. The findings stated that three factors identified by this model predicted commitment and therefore stability in romantic relationships. This applied to both homosexual and heterosexual couples. This suggest there is a ecological validity for the theory’s claim that these factors are universally important features of romantic relationships

Question 6

What is a limitation of Rusbult’s investment model? (52 studies are correlational)

Answer 6

The research reviewing the 52 studies was correlational. As a result we cannot be sure cause and effect can be established between commitment in relationships and the factors identified in the model. Therefore the direction of causality could be reversed. For example, it could be that strongly committed partners are more likely to invest in their relationships

Question 7

What is a strength of Rusbult’s investment model? (explains abusive relationships)

Answer 7

This theory can prove useful in explaining abusive relationships. Rusbult and Martz studied domestically abused women at a shelter and found that those most likely to return to an abusive partner reported having made the greatest investment and having the fewest alternatives feeling dissatisfied. This reflects how satisfaction on its own cannot explain why people stay in relationships and has to be combined with commitment and investment.

Question 8

What is a strength of Rusbult’s investment model? (supportive evidence is based on self - report methods)

Answer 8

A strength of this model is that its supportive evidence is based on self - report methods. Self - report techniques are an appropriate method to use as satisfaction and perceptions of investments are subjective judgements. The use of this technique is more of a valid test of the theory than for example, experimental techniques

Question 9

What is a strength of Rusbult’s investment model? (external validity + real romantic relationships)

Answer 9

Additionally a lot of researched evidence gathered to support this model comes from real romantic relationships, meaning that the evidence has a good degree of external validity as it relates to commitment levels in existing relationships