Theories Of Romantic Relationships: Social Exchange Theory Flashcards
Social exchange theory
Thibault + Kelley
Proposed idea that we try to minimise the loss and maximise the gain of a rel - minimax principle
We judge our satisfaction with a relationship based on profit it yields (rewards/costs)
Examples of cost on a relationship
Effort
Time wasted
Issued opportunities
Sacrifice
Examples of reward in a relationship
Gifts
Intimacy
Care
Reward - costs =…
Outcome
The success of a relationship is dependent upon profitability of this outcome
Assumes people try to maximise rewards they obtain from a rel + maximise costs
Exchange comes from assumption that when people receive rewards from others they feel obliged to reciprocate
Stages of social exchange theory
Sampling
Bargaining
Commitment
Institutionalisation
Sampling
Couple explores rewards + costs in a variety of relationships
Bargaining
Couple negotiates relationship + agrees rewards and costs
Commitment
Couple settles into rel + exchange of reward becomes profitable
Instit
Norms + expectations r firmly established
Comparison level
2 ways we measure profit in romantic relationships
1 is comp level = amount of reward u believe u deserve
Develops from our experience of previous relationships which feed into expectations of current onw
Influences by social norms and reflected on social media, books, tv
2nd measure - comparison level for alternatives
CLFA provides wider context for current rel
Questions such as is the grass greener on the other side
According to duck et al the CLFA we adopt will depend on the state of our current rel
So if cos of current rel outweigh rewards than alternatives become more attractive
Strength - support for CLFA
Research
Longitudinal study of 101 couples at uni found CLFA was mst important variable in rel satisfaction
Sprecher showed CLFA was neg correlated with sat and commitment e.g of commitments r high then alternatives were low
Help understand role further
Counter - lim of sprecher
Only studies US universities students
Culturally bias as in collectivist cultures there i more pressure to not consider alternatives e.g shame in china placed on divorce
Strength - real word application
Gottman + levenson foudn in successful marriage the ratio fo pos to neg exchanges was 5:1 but in unsucc i was 1:1
Integrated behavioural couple therapy couples r taught hoe to increase ratio
Real world application and high mundane realism
Beneficial theory that can help improve rel
Lim - difficult to measure
Set (social exchange theory) concepts r difficult to measure
Rewards + costs vary too much between EpiPen + unclear what values of CL + CLFA result in a breakdown
