Theories of Romantic Relationships: Equity Theory Flashcards
What is equity theory?
Economic and cognitive theory which was developed in response to a criticism of the SET, which suggests that r/ships continue if they both feel that they are profiting from the r/ship. This theory suggests what matters most is that both partners feel that the r/ship is fair.
What are the points of the equity theory?
Developed by Walster. Individuals become dissatisfied with r/ships if they feel they are suffering from inequity (unfairness). Dissatisfaction occurs if they are over benefitting or under-benefitting. If they put in more than they receive or receive more than they put in the r/ship is considered inequitable and could end
How does under-benefitting affect someone?
Leads to feelings of anger, hostility, resentment and humiliation
How does over-benefitting affect someone?
Feelings of guilt, comfort and shame
What is the perceived ratio of inputs and outputs?
Two individuals can put in variable amounts and still maintain equity. This is because a person holds subjective views on the relative inputs and outputs of themselves and their partner.
What are the factors associated with equity theory?
Profit
Distribution
Dissatisfaction
Realignment
What is profit?
Rewards are maximised and costs minimised - High benefits and low costs make a relationship more likely to succeed in the long term.
What is distribution?
Trade-offs and compensations are negotiated to achieve fairness in a relationship in terms of costs & benefits
What is dissatisfaction?
The greater the degree of perceived unfairness, the greater sense of dissatisfaction which could lead to breakdown
What is realignment?
If restoring equity is possible with any new or continuing costs and benefits., maintenance will continue, with attempts made to realign ( RESTORE) equity once again.
EQUITY THEORY - Research evidence?
For example Dainton – studied 219 individuals in romantic relationships and found that people who had perceived inequity had low satisfaction in their relationship. However, most individuals were actually motivated to return to an equitable state
This suggests that equity has a major influence over a romantic r/ship as research such as credibility to the theory
EQUITY THEORY - Cross cultural support?
Yum et al researched cultural differences in 6 different cultures. While there were little differences between cultures, Yum found that equitable couples performed the most maintenance strategies in all cultures suggesting it takes a lot of effort to keep a relationship equitable. The next group who performed the most maintenance strategies were the over-benefitters, followed by the under-benefitters. This implies that the concept of Equity has high population validity in various cultures so it could be considered universal in explaining maintenance strategies.
EQUITY THEORY - Individual differences?
Huesmann et al (1987) suggest that some people are less concerned about equity than the ‘norm’. They describe some partners as benevolents who are prepared to contribute more to the relationship than they get out of it (underbenefit). Others are entitled who believe they deserve to overbenefit and accept it without feeling distressed or guilty. In both cases such individuals have less concern about equity than the theory predicts.
EQUITY THEORY - Practical applications?
For example, using this theory can help develop couples therapy to focus on the FAIRNESS in R/ships. Where counsellors can use this knowledge of how relationship dynamics work to help couples to identify the areas of inequity that they perceive and aim to help make the couples reflect on what would make the relationship more equitable again
EQUITY THEORY - Cause and effect?
Clark (1984) argues most people in R/ships do not immediately think in terms of rewards and equity because if they do the R/ships are in trouble. Perhaps another variable mediates this relationship - such as being jealous or having a loss of investment - these factors may force you to think about the FAIRNESS in a R/ship. THIS IMPLIES that we must be open to other factors outside inequity and dissatisfaction that may help feelings of unfairness in a relationship. This theory could therefore be considered to have theoretical flaws when applied to real life relationships.
