rusbult's investment model Flashcards
(15 cards)
What does commitment depend on?
Satisfaction level
CLalt
Investment size
What theory does the investment model develop on?
SET
How is satisfaction based on CL and CLalt?
Partner is satisfied when they get more and lose less
Better than alternatives
How did investment become a factor in commitment?
CL and CLalt not enough
If they were, relationships would end as soon as an alternative was there
What is investment?
Importance of resources associated with relationship
Anything we lose at end of relationship
Intrinsic or extrinsic
Commitment = increasing investment
What are intrinsic investments?
Resources we put directly into relationship
Money and possessions
Intangible things like energy and self disclosures
What are extrinsic investments?
Resources associated with relationship
Mutual friends and children
Shared memories
Why do people stay in relationships?
Main factor causing people to stay is not satisfaction but commitment
Dissatisfied partners stay because they’re committed
Don’t want investment to go to waste - work hard to repair relationship
How does commitment express itself in everyday maintenance behaviours?
Promote relationship (accommodation) Put partner’s interests first (willingness to sacrifice) Forgive transgressions (forgiveness)
What is the cognitive element to relationship maintenance?
Think about each other and alternatives in specific ways
Positive illusions - unrealistically positive about partner
Ridiculing alternatives - negative about tempting alternatives
Evaluation - supporting research evidence
Le and Agnew meta analysis
52 studies 11000 pps
Satisfaction CLalt and investment size all predicted relationship commitment
Greater commitment = stable and longer relationships
True for gay couples
Evaluation - explains abusive relationships
Rusbult and Martz - abused women most likely to return to partner reported greatest investment and fewest alternatives
Evaluation - oversimplifies investment
Goodfriend and Agnew - more to investment than just resources
Few investments in early stages
Extended model to include investment made in future plans
Motivated to commit because they want to see their plans work out
Evaluation - methodological strengths
Evidence relies on self report
Appropriate because objectivity doesn’t matter
Perceptions are more important - belief in investment that influences commitment
Evaluation - based on correlational research
Correlations between factors
Can’t conclude that factors cause commitment
More committed = willing to make greater investment
Reversed causality
