Social Exchange Theory

Question 1

Who proposed an economic theory of relationships?

Answer 1

Thibault and Kelley

Question 2

Thibault and Kelley proposed what?

Answer 2

An economic theory of relationships

Question 3

What is the economic theory of relationships?

Answer 3

MAXIMISED rewards - MINIMISED costs= PROFIT = relationship satisfaction

Question 4

MAXIMISED rewards - = PROFIT= relationship satisfaction

Answer 4

Minimised costs

Question 5

Costs and rewards are?

Answer 5

Subjective

Question 6

What are costs and rewards?

Answer 6

Subjective

Question 7

Give examples of rewards an individual could receive from a partner

Answer 7

Companionship, sex, praise

Question 8

Companionship and praise can all be considered as what?

Answer 8

Rewards from your partner

Question 9

Why are rewards deemed as subjective?

Answer 9

Some may be more rewarding than others

Question 10

What may change as the relationship develops?

Answer 10

What is considered as rewarding or costly

Question 11

What kind of relationship will be maintained?

Answer 11

One where the rewards will exceed the costs and is mutually beneficial

Question 12

A relationship where the rewards exceed the costs and is mutually beneficial will be?

Answer 12

Maintained

Question 13

How many types of comparisons are there?

Answer 13

2

Question 14

How do we measure profits in relationships?

Answer 14

Through comparisons

Question 15

Name the two types of comparisons

Answer 15

Comparison Levels
Comparison Levels of Alternatives

Question 16

How do comparison levels develop?

Answer 16

From our past relationships

Question 17

What is compared in comparison levels?

Answer 17

Our past relationship is compared with our current relationship rewards

Question 18

Our past relationships ………………… into our expectations of our current ones

Answer 18

Feed

Question 19

What other factor may also influence expectations of current relationships?

Answer 19

Social Norms

Question 20

When do our comparison levels change?

Answer 20

As we gain more experiences

Question 21

What do we compare in comparison levels of alternatives?

Answer 21

Rewards and costs in our current relationships compared to potential ones

Question 22

Give an example of comparison levels of alternatives

Answer 22

E.g. My girlfriend is lovely but this new girl is closer so I would save petrol money

Question 23

What does SET predict?

Answer 23

We will stay in our relationship as long as we believe it is more rewarding than alternatives

Question 24

When we believe a relationship is more rewarding than alternatives we will?

Answer 24

Stay

Question 25

A relationship satisfaction is maintained when?

Answer 25

Rewards exceed the costs Profit level is not exceeded by alternative relationships

Question 26

What kind of relationship will succeed?

Answer 26

One that is mutually beneficial

Question 27

A mutually beneficial relationship will?

Answer 27

Succeed

Question 28

Who conducted research to support Social Exchange theory?

Answer 28

Kurdeck

Question 29

What procedure did Kurdeck do?

Answer 29

He asked gay, lesbian and heterosexual couples to complete relationship questionnaires measuring relationship questionnaires and the rewards/costs of their relationship

Question 30

What self report methos did Kurdeck use?

Answer 30

Questionaires

Question 31

What did Kurdeck find?

Answer 31

Those partners who wee more committed perceived more rewards and fewer costs and viewed alternative relationships as unattractive

Question 32

Why does Kudeck's research support social exchange theory?

Answer 32

Experiencing relationship profit is important for committed romantic relationships for all couples

Question 33

What is the link for Kurdeck's research?

Answer 33

Increasing the validity of social exchange theory as a theory of romantic relationships

Question 34

What re the two limitations of SET?

Answer 34

Correlational Definition of rewards are subjective

Question 35

What is a negative of reserach being correlational?

Answer 35

Cause and effect cannot be established

Question 36

What can cause and effect not be established between?

Answer 36

Lack of profit and dissatisfaction in relationships

Question 37

What has other research found against SET?

Answer 37

Couples don't monitor costs and rewards, or consider alternatives until AFTER they become dissatisfied

Question 38

What is the link for correlational research?

Answer 38

Limiting the internal validity

Question 39

If you can't think of a PEEL what can you always rely on?

Answer 39

Alternative explanations