Investment theory

Question 1

Rusbult’s Investment model

Answer 1

Rusbult developed the social exchange theory by proposing the investment model.

Rusbult saw commitment as a key factor in sustaining a
relationship. Commitment depends on satisfaction, comparison with alternatives and investment.

Question 2

Satisfaction & Investment

Answer 2

Satisfaction is determined by available alternatives, better alternatives equals less satisfaction.

Investment acts as a deterrent to leaving a relationship. Intrinsic investment refers to the resources put into the relationship directly (e.g. time, effort etc.) and extrinsic investment refers to resources arising out of the relationship (e.g. children etc.).

Question 3

Investment model

Answer 3

Satisfaction, Alternatives, Investment —» Commitment level —» Future stay or leave decision

Question 4

Rusbult’s Investment model eval (+)

Answer 4

+The investment model explains infidelity by showing how low satisfaction and high-quality alternatives reduce commitment, making a breakup more likely. It also explains why some stay in abusive relationships: despite low satisfaction, they may have poor alternatives and high investment (e.g. shared children), which increases commitment and keeps them from leaving.

+Research conducted by Van Lange (1997) supports Rusbult’s investment model. He studied students from Taiwan and from the Netherlands and found evidence that high commitment levels in a relationship were related to high satisfaction, low quality of alternatives and high investment size.

+ The Investment model can be applied to explain the factor of commitment in a variety of different relationships. Rusbult administered investment model scale questionnaires to participants in homosexual relationships and found that all factors of the investment model were found to be important when looking at commitment.

Question 5

Rusbult’s Investment model eval (-)

Answer 5

• Investment model has been criticised because it is very difficult to measure the factors of commitment, satisfaction, investment and quality of alternatives. Rusbult responded to this criticism and constructed an investment model scale which could measure each of the key variables in a reliable and valid way. The research that Rusbult conducted using these scales involved self-reports, and this then created further problems of social desirability bias.
• Lin (1995) criticises investment model because it does not take into account gender differences that might exist when looking at relationships. Lin (1995) found that females tend to report higher satisfaction, poorer quality of alternatives, greater investment and stronger commitment in relationships compared to males