Relatioinship- SET

Question 1

What is the basic assumption of SET

Answer 1

Individuals must feel they are getting more out of the relationship then they are putting in.

Question 2

What does SET involve and exchange of

Answer 2

Resources

Question 3

Who proposed SET

Answer 3

Thibault and Kelly

Question 4

How is SET a cognitive theory

Answer 4

As it deals with the perceptions of the costs/benefits. The costs/benefits may not actually exist but it is the individual’s perception of them that is important.

Question 5

What is a minimax strategy

Answer 5

Individuals attempt to maximise their benefits/rewards and minimise the costs.

Question 6

What are some examples of rewards in a relationship

Answer 6

Financial support Companionship Children Attention

Question 7

According to SET when will a relationship be likely to break down

Answer 7

When it is costing more than it benefits

Question 8

What 2 comparisons do individuals use to asses their r/ship benefits

Answer 8

Comparison level Comparison level for alternative r/shisps

Question 9

What is comparison level

Answer 9

This is the comparison on the current relationship. Often use past r/ships as a guide and also early stages of relationships

Question 10

What is comparison level for alt r/ships

Answer 10

Other potential relationships are looked at e.g. if you were seeing somebody else OR considering others R/ships. If they are judged to offer more benefits, the current relationship is likely to break up

Question 11

According to SET how many stages does the r/ship develop through

Answer 11

4

Question 12

What are the 4 stages the r/ship develops through according to SET

Answer 12

Sampling
Bargaining
Commitment
Institutionalisation

Question 13

Evaluating SET -evidence (Rusbult)

Answer 13

P- There is evidence that supports some elements of Social Exchange Theory
E- Rusbult & Zembrodt (1983) longitudinal study with 30 students in heterosexual R/ships completed Q’aires every 17 days for 7 months!Students had weighed up the costs and benefits. Those who stayed in a R/ship had an increase in rewards which led to better satisfaction - but costs had little impact
L- This shows support for aspects of the model i.e. the significance of rewards

Question 14

Evaluating SET -Evidence (Hatfield)

Answer 14

P-Found that partners who underbenfitted in a relationship were angry and felt deprived,
E-whereas those who overbenefitted felt guilty and uncomfortable.
L- This suggests that an equilibrium is required for relationships to be especially effective.

Question 15

Evaluating SET- Evidence (Rusbult and Martz)

Answer 15

P- Applied the SET to women who were in abusive relationships.
E- They established that women would tend to go back into abusive relationships that they had briefly left because there was no better alternative.
L- They suggested that the women would prefer to be with an abusive partner than be by themselves and had found the abusive relationship to offer benefits in some form.

Question 16

Evaluating SET - Limited explanation

Answer 16

P- the costs of a relationship may not be as important at all stages of a relationship
E- Rusbult suggested that costs are not really considered during relationship formation, only much later when the relationship becomes more important & when it is beginning to break down
E- for instance we have little concern over paying for meals or phone calls at the start of a R/ship
L- this theory, therefore, may be best suited to just explaining the maintenance and breakdown of relationships