Theories Of Romantic Relationships: SET Flashcards
What does SET mean
Social exchange theory
What does SET assume
Relationships are guided by the minimax principle
What did Thibault and Kelley propose
Relationships could be explained in terms of economics - it is an exchange of goods or less tangible things such as doing a favour
How is satisfaction judged
In terms of profit - partners are motivated to minimise the costs to themselves whilst maximising rewards
What kind of relationships continue?
Profitable ones
Give some examples of a cost
Loss of time or stress
Give some examples of a reward
Sex, praise or companionship
What else needs to be accounted for
Opportunity cost - the recognition that investment in a given relationship is at the cost of expending those resources somewhere else
What is a measure of profit
Comparison level
What is comparison level
A judgment of the reward level we expect in a relationship, determined by relationship experiences and social norms
When will people generally pursue a relationship
When the CL is high (some people with low self esteem may have low CL’s)
What is an additional measure of profit
CLalt
What is CLalt
Comparison level for alternatives
What is comparison level for alternatives
Involves considering whether we might gain more rewards and endure fewer costs in a different relationship - assuming that we can only select one partner
When will people stay in a relationship
Despite alternatives, when we consider it is more rewarding that the alternatives
What did Duck suggest
That here are always alternatives around - if costs of current relationship outweigh rewards then alternatives become more attractive
What did Duck say about if we are in a satisfying relationship
We may not even notice the alternatives
What are the four stages of a relationship
- Sampling stage
- Bargaining stage
- Commitment stage
- Institutionalisation stage
What is the sampling stage
Involves exploring rewards and costs by experimenting in our relationship and observing others (not just romantic)
What is the bargaining stage
Occurs at start of a relationship where romantic partners negotiate around costs and rewards
What is the commitment stage
Where relationships become more stable, costs reduce and rewards increase
What is the institutionalisation stage
When partners become settled because the norms of a relationship are established
Name a limitation of SET
Assumes all relationships are exchange based - Clark and Mills
What did Clark and Mills do
Argued that exchange relationships may involve profit (e.g. Work colleagues) Communal relationships (e.g. Romantic partners) involve giving and receiving of rewards without thinking of profit
