Relationships: Theories of Romantic Relationships SET/Equity/Rusbult's Investment Model (MH)

Question 1

Social Exchange Theory is what type of theory?

Answer 1

Economic

Question 2

In Social Exchange Theory, what do parties exchange?

Answer 2

Rewards and costs

Question 3

Who suggested that relationships involve rewards and costs?

Answer 3

Homan

Question 4

According to Homan, individuals are attracted to those who offer…?

Answer 4

Rewards

Question 5

Satisfaction from a relationship depends on the ratio between…?

Answer 5

Costs and benefits

Question 6

In relationships people act selfishly. How?

Answer 6

Minimising costs, maximising rewards

Question 7

If rewards outweigh the costs, there is…?

Answer 7

Profit

Question 8

If costs outweigh rewards, there is…?

Answer 8

Loss

Question 9

If there is loss in a relationship, how will the partners feel?

Answer 9

Dissatisfied

Question 10

A relationship where the rewards exceed the costs is likely to be…?

Answer 10

Maintained

Question 11

Thibaut and Kelley explained that there are two types of comparisons where we measure the profits of our relationship. What are these?

Answer 11

Comparison levels
Comparison levels of alternatives

Question 12

What is meant by comparison levels?

Answer 12

the amount of reward you believe you deserve to get.

Question 13

What is meant by comparison levels of alternatives?

Answer 13

questioning whether you believe you could gain greater rewards and fewer costs from another relationship

Question 14

What is the difference between comparison levels and comparison levels of alternatives?

Answer 14

Comparison levels refers to comparing past relationships to current relationships, whereas comparison levels of alternatives refers to comparing current relationship to potential future relationships.

Question 15

What kind of model is equity theory?

Answer 15

an economic model

Question 16

What does equity theory aim to do?

Answer 16

it explains relationships based on Social Exchange theory but aims to explain how SET would work in real life relationships

Question 17

Equity is based on the idea of ___________ for each partner, not necessarily equality.

Answer 17

fairness

Question 18

What should each partner experience according to equity theory?

Answer 18

a balance between their cost/effort and their benefit/reward.
each partner should feel they are getting out of the relationship the same as they put in.

Question 19

If both profit levels are the same, equity theory would argue that there will be ____________________ in the relationship.

Answer 19

satisfaction

Question 20

If there is an inequity in profit levels, what does that lead to according to equity theory?

Answer 20

Dissatisfaction

Question 21

If there is equity (fairness) in the relationship, what will happen?

Answer 21

the relationship will be maintained

Question 22

If there is inequity in the relationship, what will the ‘loser’ (under benefitted partner) feel?

Answer 22

dissatisfied, angry and hostile due to embarrassment.

Question 23

If there is inequity in the relationship, what will the ‘winner’ (over benefitted partner) feel?

Answer 23

guilty and the relationship will not be maintained due to a lack of perceived fairness in the relationship.

Question 24

What does Rusbult’s model emphasise the central importance of?

Answer 24

Commitment in relationships

Question 25

Commitment in relationships is the key element of who’s model?

Answer 25

Rusbult

Question 26

Rusbult’s Investment model includes what elements?

Answer 26

Commitment, satisfaction, comparison with alternatives and investment.

Question 27

Which theory of romantic relationships focuses on commitment, satisfaction, comparison with alternatives and investment?

Answer 27

Rusbult’s investment model

Question 28

What does Rusbult suggest about satisfaction level?

Answer 28

A satisfying relationship is judged by comparing rewards and costs whereby relationships are profitable when there are many rewards and few costs - each partner is satisfied.

Question 29

What makes a satisfying relationship according to Rusbult?

Answer 29

Where there are many rewards and few costs so each partner is satisfied.

Question 30

What does Rusbult mean by comparison with alternatives?

Answer 30

The perceived desirability of the best alternative to the current relationship based upon the extent to which an individual’s needs could be better met within an alternative relationship.

Question 31

What does Rusbult suggest if comparison with alternatives shows an individual that their needs would not be better met with an alternative partner?

Answer 31

the commitment to the relationship is stronger

Question 32

What does Rusbult mean by investment size?

Answer 32

the amount and importance of the rewards associated with a relationship. Resources would decline in value or be lost if the relationship was to end.

Question 33

What two types of investment did Rusbult suggest?

Answer 33

Intrinsic and Extrinsic

Question 34

What is meant by an Intrinsic investment?

Answer 34

resources put DIRECTLY into the relationship. Tangible things such as money and possessions. Intangible things such as time/effort/energy/emotion.

Question 35

What is meant by an Extrinsic investment?

Answer 35

investments that did not previously feature in the relationship which are now closely associated with - e.g. shared/mutual friends, children, house, shared memories.

Question 36

High satisfaction + no better alternative + increased investment size = ?

Answer 36

Increased level of commitment to the relationship

Question 37

High satisfaction + ? + increased investment size = Increased level of commitment to the relationship.

Answer 37

No better alternative