Rusbult's investment model Flashcards
(14 cards)
What does the investment model emphasise?
It emphasises the central importance of committment in relationships
Why did Rusbult create this model?
To address the limitations of the social exchange theory
Rusbult stated committment depends on three factors which are?
Satisfaction levels, comparison with alternatives and investment size
What is satisfaction in a relationship judged by?
It is judged by comparing rewards and costs
When are partners satisfied?
Partners are satisfied when they get more rewards out of the relationship than they expect based on either previous relationships or social norms
What are comparisons with alternatives?
This is when we compare our rewards and costs in our current relationships compared to potential ones with other people but also the possibility of having no relationship at all
What is investment size?
An investment is anything we would lose if the relationship was to end
What are the two types of investment?
Intrinsic investment and extrinsic investment
What is intrinsic investment?
Resources put directly into a relationship
What could intrinsic investment include?
Things such as money and possessions
What other things can intrinsic investments include?
Intangible things such as time, effort, energy, emotion and self-disclosure
What is extrinsic investment?
Investments which did not previously feature in the relationship which are now closely associated with it, e.g shared friends, children, house, shared memories
What increases after investments have occurred?
Committment increases as ending a relationship would then become more costly
high satisfaction + no better alternative + increased investment size =
increased level of committment
