Relationships - Theories of Romantic Relationships

Question 1

Social Exchange Theory - Thibault & Kelley

Answer 1

Relationships are like a cost-benefit analysis
People stay in relationships where rewards outweigh costs & compare relationship to alternatives
Want to maximise ‘profits’ & minimise ‘costs’ (MinMax)

Question 2

SET - Comparison Levels for Alternatives

Answer 2

CL based on memories of past experiences combined with expectations of what we want & expect in the future
Low self-esteem - low comparison levels > satisfied with small profits, even small losses
High self-esteem - decide they deserve a lot more

Question 3

SET - Stages of Relationship Development

Answer 3

1. Sampling - Costs & rewards of relationship with another are investigated
2. Bargaining - Negotiation between 2 parties where costs & rewards are agreed
3. Commitment - Exchange of rewards stabilises, focus turns towards relationship itself
4. Institutionalisation - norms of relationship firmly established - parties are relaxed

Question 4

SET Evaluation

Answer 4

Strengths;
Hatfield - Newlyweds - happiest were those who felt the marriage was equal for both parties in terms of costs & benefits
Applies to non-hetero couples

Weaknesses:
Assumes people are inherently selfish in relationships by trying to maximise profits & minimise costs
Culturally bias - doesn’t apply to arranged marriages
Difficult to quantify costs & benefits as they are subjective & unique to each person
Ignores emotional factors such as love & commitment

Question 5

Rusbult’s Investment Model

Answer 5

Extended SET
- Commitment is a key factor in maintaining relationships
- Depends on satisfaction, comparison with alternatives and investment
Satisfaction is determined by available alternatives
Investment acts as a deterrent to leaving a relationship

Question 6

IM - What is commitment influenced by?

Answer 6

1. Satisfaction: rewards vs costs - comparison levels
2. Comparison with alternatives: better options
3. Investment size: what has been put into the relationship
   Intrinsic: resources put directly in (money, time)
   Extrinsic: possessions received together that weren’t there before (pet, child, social circle)
   - Explains why dissatisfied partners stay in relationships

Question 7

Rusbult & Martz - ‘Battered women’

Answer 7

Women in abusive relationships stayed/more likely to return because they had invested heavily and there were few higher quality alternatives

Question 8

IM - Lee & Agnew

Answer 8

Meta-analysis - 52 studies, 11,000 ppt from 5 countries
Satisfaction, comparison with alternatives & investment predicted relationship commitment
- Men, women, hetero, homosexual couples

Question 9

Evaluation of IM

Answer 9

Strengths:
Explains abusive relationships - Rusbult & Martz
Victim of abuse doesn’t have to be satisfied with a relationship to stay in it
Application to other relationships, populations, cultures

Weaknesses:
Oversimplifies investment - original model doesn’t recognise complexity of investment
Correlation doesn’t indicate causation

Question 10

Equity Theory - Walster et al

Answer 10

Relationships work best when both partners feel the distribution of rewards & costs is fair
If one partner feels under benefitted, may become dissatisfied
Ratio of costs & benefits is important

Question 11

Equity - Hatfield et al

Answer 11

Equity is important in many aspects of a relationship & does not diminish over time
Inequitable relationships led to dissatisfaction over time & relationships ended

Question 12

Equity Weakness - Huseman et al

Answer 12

Some people less sensitive to equity
- Benevolents - contribute more than what they get out
- Entitleds - deserve to be benefitted & accept with no guilt
Equity not applicable to all relationships

Question 13

Equity Weakness - Aumer-Ryan

Answer 13

Collectivist - couples most satisfied when over-benefitted
Individualist - couples most satisfied when relationship is equitable