Equity theory: Flashcards
(9 cards)
What is equity theory?
People are concerned about fairness in a relationship, where they shouldd feel like they receive approximately what they deserve.
What is the ‘winning formula’?
When one partner’s benefits minus their costs are equal to the other partner’s benefits minus their costs. For example, if a partner perceives receiving money and attention in exchange for cleaning and cooking as a fair transaction, she will be happy with the relationship, as she considers it a fair exchange.
When does a breakdown occur then?
if one partner perceives the relationship as unfair, believing that their benefits minus their costs do not equal their partner’s benefits minus their costs. This perception leads to dissatisfaction, as individuals who feel they are not in a fair relationship may become angry and resentful. The longer these feelings of unfairness persist, the more likely a couple is to break up.
What if a person if over benefiting?
The theory also posits that regardless of whether a partner is over-benefitting or under-benefitting, they may still feel that the relationship is unfair, which can lead to dissatisfaction. According to Equity Theory, a person may feel dissatisfied even when they are over-benefiting because they experience guilt and shame for receiving more benefits than they deserve.
can this perception of equity change over time?
It is perfectly normal for many people to put in more than they receive at the beginning of a relationship, but if this imbalance continues for too long, it may lead to dissatisfaction. A partner’s way of dealing with inequity also changes over time. What seemed unfair initially may become a norm as the relationship progresses, or the partner who contributes more may work even harder to restore the balance.
Stafford and Canary
conducted a study to investigate whether equity affects satisfaction in relationships. They sent a questionnaire to 200 married couples to measure both equity in their relationships and their overall satisfaction. Couples were also asked about the division of household tasks and chores, as well as levels of positivity in their relationship. The researchers found that satisfaction was higher in relationships where couples believed the relationship was equitable. The next highest level of satisfaction was reported by those partners who over-benefitted from the relationship. The least satisfied couples were those in which one or more partners under-benefitted. Therefore, there seems to be a positive relationship between relationship satisfaction and equity, which supports the validity of Equity Theory and the idea that fairness is important for maintaining a romantic relationship.
Limitation of stafford and canary
self report - questionnaires - social desirability bias - low internal validity
Cultural differences - Aumer-ryan
They found that both men and women from non-Western (collectivist) cultures reported being most satisfied when they were over-benefiting from their relationships, rather than when the relationships were equitable. These findings highlight a cultural bias in this area of research and suggest that Equity Theory may not fully explain the development of romantic relationships in all cultures. The concept of equity may not be universal and could be a Western sociological construct, making this theory culturally biased.
Individual differences
. According to Hussman et al. (1987), some people are less sensitive to inequity and are willing to give more in relationships, referred to as “benevolents,” whereas others, termed “entitleds,” believe they deserve to over-benefit from relationships and don’t feel guilty about it. This means that the principles of Equity Theory may not apply reliably to all people, and it may not explain their romantic relationships with confidence. Therefore, this affects the credibility of the theory as a universal explanation for relationship breakdowns.
