L11 - Relationships Flashcards
What are the characteristics of close relationships?
- Interaction: Frequent interaction over extended periods e.g sports
- Activities: Involving different activities and events
- Influence: Strong interpersonal influence = unique to relationships = people change each other and become the same person
What is the interdependence theory?
Seek relationships where benefits outweighs cost
What are rewards and costs defined as?
- Anything one gains: love/money
- Anything a person loses: time/energy/loss of rewards
What happens when you are in a relationship? Or feeling dissatisfied?
- Comparison level = what we deserve
- Comparison level of alternatives: what we could have with someone else
- e.g looking at friends relationships, movies, and who is available
What do you see in relationships?
- Correspondent Outcomes: exist when both partners value the same things e.g kids
- Social norms: Arise when partners need to develop rules for trade-offs; compromise
- Social roles: rules for who does which activities
What are the three principles that govern fairness in close relationships?
- Equality: same things given to all - hard to quantify irl
- Relative needs: people have different wants/needs - things are more valued to one partner
- Equity: deservingness. Outcomes of P1/Contribution = Outcome of P2/Contribution
What is equity theory?
- People in relationships want to maximise outcomes
- Rules evolve about how to divide rewards fairly
- When inequity is perceived, distress felt & equity must be restored
What was a study about equity?
- Inequity = distress for both parties
- People restore equity by behaviours/thoughts about relationship
- Thoughts are them deluding themselves but will clear up soon
What are the effects of inequity?
- Decreases relationship satisfaction in couples esp early in relationship
- Effects on relationship satisfaction are stronger for people who have a high concern with fairness in relationships
What are the two types of relationships that shows not all couples are the same?
- Exchange relationship: people give benefits with expectation of receiving specific benefits in return
- People provide benefits to one another on the basis of needs. No repayment needed
When might problems arise?
Conflict when relationship becomes more serious
What does dissatisfaction lead to?
- Attributions: either relationship enhancing or distress maintaining
- Happy couples make more relationship-enhancing attributions
- Distress-maintaining attributions may decrease satisfaction over time
- Reciprocation: of negative affect
- Can be diminished by commitment and perspective talking and empathy
Types of methods people take when problems arise:
- Voice without hostility = restoration
- Loyalty = wait, could be short term issue due to external factor
- Neglect = giving up - not even fighting
- Exit = evaluate options
