RELATIONSHIPS Flashcards
What is the SET?
Social Exchange Theory
Who proposed SET?
Thaibaut an Kelley
What does SET propose?
Individuals start and maintain relationships that maximise rewards (profits) and minimise costs (losses)
What are levels of comparison used for in SET?
Individuals use levels of comparison to asses how profitable their relationship is
What are the 2 levels of comparison in SET?
Comparison level
Comparison level for alternatives
What is the first comparison level in SET?
Individuals idea of how much reward they deserve based on past relationships
Linked to self- esteem
high self- esteem = higher expectations of rewards
low self- esteem = lower expectations of rewards
What is the comparison level for alternatives in SET?
Individuals perception of whether their current relationship is more or less profitable than potential others
What was the research support into SET? Who Aim Procedure Findings
Kurdek and Schmitt
Aim- Test points of SET against relationship maintenance
Procedure- 185 couples, male/ female, male/ male, female/ female
Answered questionnaires
Findings- Relationship would continue if profits higher than losses
Relationship would continue if current is more profitable then alternative
Strength of SET
Real- life application
Relationship therapy
Focuses on increasing positive exchanges and reducing negative exchanges
Limitation of SET
Deterministic/ objective
Fails to consider individual differences
Too objective, as humans are subjective -> one individual may find lots of support rewarding, but another may find it annoying -> difficult to measure
Limitation of SET
Cultural bias
Collectivist cultures DON’T focus on personal goals like individualistic do
Limitation of SET
Self- reporting
Research support through questionnaires
- Unconscious
- Social desirability bias
