Theories of Romantic Relationships Flashcards
(27 cards)
What is the Social Exchange Theory?
Rewards - Costs = Profits.
Individuals will remain satisfied and stay in a relationship if they are at an acceptable level of profit.
Individuals have a comparison level which is based upon previous relationships and is the expectation of profit that they believe they deserve to gain from the relationships.
Individuals with a low self esteem may have a lower comparison level and may be more likely to stay in a relationship.
What is Comparison level for Alternatives?
Either being with someone else or alone. Individuals do not feel they are getting the level of profit that they deserve or they can gain more profit elsewhere than they are likely to feel dissatisfied and leave the relationship.
Discuss the strength of the research evidence for comparison level of alternatives comes from longitudinal research from Sprecher.
The presence of alternatives for university students in relationships was negatively correlated with commitment in both males and females. Thus the greater CLAlt the lower the satisfaction in their current relationship.
Supports SET as it suggests that having other relationship options may lead to relationship breakdown.
Discuss the strength of the real world application for SET
Integrated Behavioural Couples Therapy - Individuals is unsuccessful marriages often report a lack of positive exchanges with their partner. A primary goal of IBCT is to increase the proportion of positives exchanges and decrease negative ones. The ratio of 5:1 has been found in successful marriages.
Christensen et al treated 60 dissatisfied couples and found that 2/3 benefitted from the therapy.
Discuss a major limitation of SET as it assumes people are selfish in relationships.
Research opposition has found that this is too simplistic. Hatfield found that the happiest newlyweds felt that their marriages was fair/equitable for both partners. When individuals felt that they were over benefitting it made them feel guilty and less secure in their relationship.
Equity Theory may be more credible.
What is the Equity Theory?
Fairness, balancing. This could mean over-benefitting or under-benefitting not equitable.
How will a person feel if they are over or under benefitting?
Over = guilty, ashamed or uncomfortable.
Under = Angry, resentment, taken advantage of, low self-esteem.
How do people deal with inequity?
Under - confronts the other person and change situation or make a cognitive change to change a reward or cost. Change perception so it seems more equitable but nothing has changed.
Discuss Research Support for Equity Theory.
Hatfields - happiest newlyweds felt that their marriages were fair/equitable for both partners. Supports idea that equity is more important than profit and that individuals are not as selfish as the SET.
Discuss limitation of Equity Theory over cause and effect.
Inequity may not cause dissatisfaction instead dissatisfaction may cause inequity whereby individuals puts less effort in. Bi-directional model.
Discuss the limitation of Equity Theory that gender differences in perception of equity.
Women are more likely to perceive themselves as under-benefitting compared to men. Yet women feel more guilty than men in comparison to over-benefitting.
Beta bias - gender differences are ignored.
What is Rusbult’s Investment Model?
Satisfaction level, comparison with alternatives and investment size determines commitment level. Which is expressed through relationship maintenance mechanisms.
What are examples of investments?
Children, emotional investment, mortgage, mutual friends, cars.
Why is commitment more important than satisfaction?
You can be dissatisfied but still committed, satisfaction is the least significance and investment most. Satisfaction is only a factor towards commitment.
What are the relationship maintenance mechanisms?
Accommodation, Willingness to Sacrifice, Forgiveness, Positive Illusions, Ridiculing Alternatives.
Discuss Research Support for Rusbult’s Investment Model.
Le and Agnew - Meta-analysis of 52 studies finding satisfaction level, CLAlt and investment size all predicted relationship commitment. True for men and women in heterosexual and homosexual couples.
High External Validity.
Discuss the limitation of Rusbult’s Investment Model as we cannot establish cause and effect.
Bi-Directional model suggests that it may not be the investment in that increases your commitment. Being more committed could be the cause of greater investment. Face validity, most people wouldn’t want to invest until they know they are committed.
Discuss the real world application of Rusbult’s Investment Model.
Understanding in abusive relationships, victims are likely to return to abusive partner making the greatest investments and having few alternatives. Victims may have positive illusions.
What is Duck’s Phase Model of Relationship Breakdown?
End of relationship is time-consuming and goes through four processes initiated by one partner reaching a threshold. Perception of the relationship changes and dissatisfaction becomes too great.
What are the four phases of Duck’s model?
Intra-psychic, Dyadic, Social and Grave-Dressing.
What is the intra-psychic phase?
Cognitive process, considers reasons for dissatisfaction, can’t tell their partner so tell a friend. Weigh pros and cons, evaluate against alternatives.
Threshold - I can’t stand this anymore.
What is the Dyadic Phase?
Dissatisfied partner confronts partner. Discuss complaints about inequity. Makes repairs or break up continues.
Threshold - I would be justified in withdrawing.
What is the Social phase?
Break up made public, partners seek support from friends. Mutual friends choose a side. Gossip occurs.
Threshold - I mean it
What is the Grave-Dressing Phase?
Aftermath of break up, relationship buried, partner spins ‘favourable’ story.
Threshold - It’s now inevitable
