Theories Of Romatic Reationships ✅ Flashcards
What are the theories of romantic relationships?
- Social exchange theory.
- Equity theory.
- Rusbults model.
- Duck’s phase model.
What does the social exchange theory focus on?
Explaining how maintaining is a two-way process (exchange) in which individuals focus on the rewards from being in the relationships v the cost.
Higher satisfaction = less likely to leave.
What is the social exchange theory definition?
Likelihood of a person staying in a relationship determined by assessment of costs and benefits + how it measures up against what they expect or could achieve elsewhere.
Who proposed the social exchange theory?
Thibaut and Kelley.
What are rewards in a relationship?
- Companionship.
- Being cared for.
- Sex.
What are the costs in a relationship?
- Effort.
- Financial investment.
- Time wasted (opportunity cost).
What type of theory is the exchange theory?
Economic. Focuses on maximising profit.
What does the social exchange theory suggest ab commitment?
Dependent on the profitability.
What did Thibaut and Kelley propose how we predict the likelihood of someone staying in a relationship?
- Comparison level. (Working out profit).
- Comparison of alternatives.
What is the comparison level? Explain?
Standard which we judge our relationship.
- Influenced by previous relationships. (Previous bad relation = lower CL. Thus be happy in bad relation).
- social norms (general views) = influenced by TV.
IF profit exceeds CL then relation is worthwhile.
What is comparison level alternatives?
- Weighs up if alternatives have larger profit. (Maybe not relation).
- Higher profit = temptation to leave.
- More rewarding current = More dependent on current (therefore relation is stable).
- Differences in dependence may lead to lack of commitment.
What are the stages of development?
1) Sampling stages = explore benefits and costs (find them for eachother).
2) Bargaining = rewards and costs are agreed.
3) Commitment = exchange of rewards stabilised (can focus on relationship)
4) Institutionalisation = Norms establish/relationship relaxed.
Give an example of the stages of development?
Sampling = Cost of relation = busy
Bargaining = allocate a day to meet
Commitment = can focus on getting to know eachother.
Institutionalisation = relationship fully established and relaxed.
Positive evaluation of social exchange theory?
- Supporting evidence = murder and Schmitt
185 couples who lie together (same sex as well as heterosexuals). Completed questionnaire.
F =
Supports social exchange as happiest people believe their rewards were high v low costs. - real world application = relationship therapy
Unsuccessful marriages frequently report lack of positive exchanges.
Got an and levenson = ration of positive to neg in successful marriages is 5:1 v 1:1. Therfore theorypy like IBCT attempted to increase this ration. (Study 2/3 improvement of 60 distressed couples.
Negatives of social exchange theory?
- Confusion on what constitutes a cost/benefit as there is possible individual difference in this (ie benefit of constant attention could be annoying for some) this suggests that there is difficulty to classify all events in simple terms challenging this view of relationships.
- cultural bias = may not fully explain arranged marriages as rewards and costs should be more to family that the individuals also no comparison level cuz it is permanent).
What is the equity theory?
By Elaine Hatfield in 1970.
That the other person in relationship is considered and rewards should be equal. (Focuses on equal ration) if not then relationship may not be maintained.
How is equality theory applicable?
Used in therapy to highlight imbalances which cause problems.
How can equity change in a relationship?
- Start = natural to contribute more than you receive.
- If relationship developers but you continue to effort it will get less satisfying.
Therefore showing equities important in maintaining relationships.
How do you deal with inequity? (Add more cuz she hasn’t uploaded slide).
- Partners will work to maintain if they view the relationship as salvageable. Options…
1) Restoration of acc equality (voluntarily setting things right or surging each other to).
2) Restoration of psychological equity (couples in inequitable relationships can distort reality convincing them self things are fine).
3) They can leave (if unable to restore equity) eg. emotionally losing feelings or physical divorce.
What is equities supporting evidence? Explain it?
Van yperen bunk 1990:
- Longitudinal study.
- Couples recruited form newspaper.
- obtained equity scores form each relationship + satisfaction levels a year later.
65% = viewed relationship as equal
25% men = felt over benefitted.
25% women = felt under benefitted.
F = those who viewed it as equal were more satisfied.
What are weaknesses of the equity theory?
- cultural influences = theory assumes neeed for equity is for all.
Auger -Ryan 2007 compared individualists+ collectivist couples.
F = collectivist more satisfied when over benefitted possibly due to thinking ab benefits to community. But individualist satisfaction was higher for equity. - Individual differences = not every relationship seeks equity
There are stages in relationships where things get rough and equity does not occur eg. Illness.
Who created the investment? What from?
Rusbolts.
Development of social exchange theory.
What does the investment model explain? Brief explanation?
Why people persist in some relationship.
This is not just bc of positive benefits (satisfaction) but also investment and a sense of alternatives.
Predicts changes of commitment.
Simple version of the investment model?
- Satifaction.
- Compaarison w alternatives.
- Investment.
