Theories of romantic relationships: social exchange theory

Question 1

Social exchange theory

Answer 1

Assumes romantic partners act out of self-interest in exchanging rewards and costs
-Relationship satisfying when rewards exceed costs (profit) and potential alternatives are less attractive

Question 2

Who devised the social exchange theory

Answer 2

Thibault/Kelley

Question 3

Examples of rewards in relationships

Answer 3

-Emotional support
-Sex
-Companionship

Question 4

Examples of costs in relationships

Answer 4

-Time
-Stress
-Energy
-Compromise

Question 5

What does opportunity cost mean

Answer 5

Investment of time/energy in current relationship means using resources that you cannot invest elsewhere

Question 6

What is comparison level

Answer 6

Amount of reward you believe you deserve

Question 7

What is CL based on

Answer 7

-Past experiences
-Social norms

So constantly changing

Question 8

How is self-esteem linked to CL

Answer 8

-Someone with low self-esteem has low CL so is satisfied with little profit/some costs
-Someone with higher self-esteem believed they are worth a lot more

Question 9

How do we measure profit in romantic relationships

Answer 9

Comparison level
Comparison level for alternatives

Question 10

Comparison level for alternatives

Answer 10

Gives context for current relationship as we compare to others/being single
-SET predicts we will stay in current relationship if we believe it is more rewarding than alternatives

Question 10

Comparison level for alternatives

Answer 10

Gives context for current relationship as we compare to others/being single
-SET predicts we will stay in current relationship if we believe it is more rewarding than alternatives

Question 11

Four stages of relationship development

Answer 11

-Sampling stage
-Bargaining stage
-Commitment stage
-Institutionalisation stage

Question 12

Sampling stage

Answer 12

We explore rewards and costs of social exchange by experimenting with them in our own relationship

Question 13

Bargaining stage

Answer 13

Beginning of relationship
-Partners exchange rewards/costs and identify what is most profitable

Question 14

Commitment stage

Answer 14

As time goes on sources of rewards and costs + predictable/relationship is more stable as rewards + and costs -

Question 15

Institutionalisation stage

Answer 15

Partners settled down as costs/rewards are fully established

Question 16

Strength of social exchange theory

Answer 16

Research support
-e.g Kurdek questionnaire found most committed partners perceived most rewards/fewest costs/viewed alternatives as unattractive

These findings match predictions from SET, confirming validity of theory in gay/straight partners

Question 17

Strength of social exchange theory

Answer 17

Research support
-e.g Kurdek questionnaire found most committed partners perceived most rewards/fewest costs/viewed alternatives as unattractive

These findings match predictions from SET, confirming validity of theory in gay/straight partners

Question 18

Counterpoint to research support

Answer 18

Studies ignore equity
-Much research support for role of equity- not just balance of rewards and costs but partner’s perceptions that this is fair

=SET is limited explanation which cannot account for significant proportion of research findings

Question 19

Weakness of SET

Answer 19

Claims that dissatisfaction arises only after relationship stops being profitable but Argyle argued that we don’t monitor costs/rewards/alternatives until after we are dissatisfied

Suggests that considering costs/alternatives is caused by dissatisfaction, rather than the reverse

Question 20

Weakness 2 of SET (vague concepts)

Answer 20

-Real-world psychological rewards/costs subjective/harder to define
-Unclear what the values of CL/CLalt must be before dissatisfaction threatens a relationship

=Theory is difficult to test in a valid way