theories of romantic relationships Flashcards
social exchange theory
-economic theory of how relationships form and develop
-claims partners in relationships strive to maximise reward
-support includes, companionship and support
-minimise costs e.g arguments and time commitments
rewards, costs and profits
-idea of rewards and costs is subjective
-what is seen as costly for one may be seen reward for another
-also value of costs and rewards might change over course of a relationship
-what is seen as costly or rewarding, at early stages, might become less as time goes on
comparison level
-based on idea of how much reward a person should receive in a relationship
-perception becomes more sophisticated and accurate, with experience
-may be influenced by social and cultural factors e.g books, tv programmes
-based on self-esteem
-person with high self-esteem will have high expectations
-person with low self-esteem will have lower expectations
-person will pursue, if comparison level is equal or better then previous relationship
comparison level for alternatives
-predicts we will stay in our current relationship only so long as its more rewarding then alternatives
-plenty more fish in the sea
-if costs outweigh rewards of current relationship
-alternatives become more attractive
-according to duck, if people become content in relationships they dont even notice available alternatives
stages of relationship development
sampling stage
bargaining stage
commitment stage
Initialisation stage
sampling stage
people explore potential rewards and costs of relationships
baragaing stage
beginning of relationship, partners exchange various rewards and costs, negotiating what is most profitable
commitment stage
relatiosnship becomes more stable,
-partners bcome familar with reward
-eachothers expectations
-rewards increase, costs decrease
institutionalisation stage
partners now settled down
norms of relationships, in terms of rewards and costs are firmly established
equity theory
-economic theory that suggests partners are concerned with fairness of a relationship
-according to equity theory, not the size of ornament of the rewards and costs that matter its the ratio of the two to eavhother
role of equity
term equity means fairness
what matters most with equity is that both partners level of profit i.e. reward minus costs is roughly the same. This it not the same as equity where levels of costs and rewards have to be the same i.e. equal for each partner
when there is a lack of equity, then one partner over benefits and the other under benefits from relationship
recipe for dissatisfaction and unhappiness
equity and equality
according to equity theory, its not the same amount of the rewards and costs that matter, is the ratio between the two to each other. So if one partner puts a lot of info at same time gets a lot out of it, then that will seem fair enough
consequence’s of inequality
problems arise when one partner puts great deal into relationship but gets little out of it
a partner who is subject of inequality will become distressed and dissatisfied with the relationship if this state of affairs continues for long enough
the greater the inequality, the greater the dissatisfaction
changes in perceived inequality
what makes us most dissatisfied is a change in level of perceived equity as time goes on
dealing with inequality
the under benefited partner will work hard to make the relationship more fair as long as it feels possible to do so and relationship is salvageable
