Maintenance: Equity Theory

Question 1

Who was the equity theory developed by?

Answer 1

Walster 1978

Question 2

What was the theory developed from?

Answer 2

limitations of SET: outcomes are only a reasonable predictor of satisfaction, other variables better? Evidence from research = people have sense of fairness, not wholly selfish

Question 3

What according to ET do couples do?

Answer 3

Keep an eye on what they/their partner are putting in and getting out of the relationship, should be roughly equal (ratio of input and output for each person)

Question 4

What does the ET predict will happen to people who are under and over benefitted in a relationship?

Answer 4

Under: angry and resentful, Over: guilty, uncomfortable, inequitability leads to lower levels of satisfaction

Question 5

What is the practical application of ET for making decisions about romantic relationships?

Answer 5

Review at crucial points in relationship to ensure you are being used/using but if overdone relationship becomes mechanical if you feel over-benefitted can change input,

Question 6

Who conducted a study on college students and the ET?

Answer 6

Hatfield 1972, 500 students in romantic relationships judge how equitable they were, 3m = inequitable more likely to have ended them

Question 7

Who conducted a longitudinal study comparing the SET and ET?

Answer 7

Van Yperen and Buunk 1990, 259 couples recruited, 86% married, Hatfield’s Glibal measurement of satisfaction (equity) at start, 1 year later asked how satisfied, equitable = more satisfied

Question 8

Who conducted an interview study comparing the SET and ET?

Answer 8

Walster 1977: 500 uni students dating, Global Measurements of Participants of Inputs, Outcomes and Equity, over benefitted vs equity = content (2.9, 3.5) happy (3.06, 3.6)

Question 9

Who distinguished between 2 types of relationship? Which type is happier?

Answer 9

Clarke and Mills 1979: communal: no expectation of benefit given will be repaid (happier). Exchange: benefit given by one partner in response to actual/potential benefit received

Question 10

What is the general conclusion of whether SET or ET is better?

Answer 10

SET and ET only apply to certain kinds of relationship. ET is probably better but degree of community might be another variable

Question 11

IDA: what are the cultural issues in economic theories?

Answer 11

Moghaddam: economic theories reflect US individualism, capitalism which can’t be applied to other societies, Western and non relationships dominated by different concerns and features - family more important, theory criticised as ethnocentric