Theories Of Romantic Relationships Social Exchange Theory Flashcards
Thibault and Kelly proposed that relationships are like business transactions and are maintained if those involved make a..l
Profit.
Known as an economic theory
Involves a rewards vs cost analysis
Minimal strategy
Romantic relationships are maintained as long as the benefits that someone gains from a relationship outweigh the costs that are involved.
Individuals attempt to maximise the benefits/rewards and minimise the cows
What are benefits/rewards?
Anything positive which make us feel valued
Eg compliments and affection, gifts and dates, companionship
What are costs?
Anything that is unpleasant
Eg emotional hardship, financial cost and time consuming
First of two ways which we measure the profit in a relationship. Developing a standard against which all our relationships are judged. Comparison level (CL) of previous and potential relationships
Comparison of current level of profit in a relationship to the level of profit in previous relationships (the CL)
If we judge the profit in our current relationship to be greater than the level in previous relationships (greater than the CL) the relationship likely to be seen as worthwhile and will be longer lasting
Eg, Someone whose previous relationships have been unpleasant or unsatisfying may have a low CL…
So may be happy in a current relationship that is relatively poor
However, someone whose previous relationships have been very rewarding would have…
A high CL and therefore may end a relationship that would be acceptable to other people
The other way of measuring the profit is the Comparison Level for Alternatives (CL alt)
Comparison of their current level of profit to the level of profit from possible alternatives.
If profit in their current relationship is greater than level of profit to be made in alternative, the relationship is likely to be seen as worthwhile
If alternatives seen more appealing there will be a temptation to leave the current relationship
Relationships will last if….
The rewards of a relationships exceed the costs
And
If the profit is better than that of the CL and CL alt
Supporting evidence for the influence of comparison levels for alternatives from Sprecher
Longditudinal study of 101 dating couples at US university
Found exchange variable most associated with relationship commitment was partners CL alt
In relationships where the CL alt was high, commitment to and satisfaction with the current relationship tended to be low - negative correlation
Validity if costs outweigh the rewards, alternatives become more attractive
Measuring concepts of SET difficult to do
Difficult to objectively define what constitutes as a cost and a reward
What may be seen as a reward to someone else may be seen as a cost to someone else.
What might be seen as a reward at the start of the relationship might end up as a cost later on.
These problems challenge the validity of the view that all romantic relationships work in this way
Many researchers do not accept the economic metaphor that underlies this theory
Clark and Mills argued that in relationships we give and take rewards without keeping score
Commitment questioned at the start of relationship if exchange monitoring was occurring
SET based on faulty assumptions so cannot account for the majority of relationships
Overemphasises costs and benefits and ignores factors that play a role in relationship satisfaction
Eg. Individuals own personal views and beliefs about relationships may make them more tolerant of a relationship where they are not in a profit
‘For better or for worse’
Can not explain satisfaction without also considering individual differences in relational standards and beliefs
