Theories of Romantic Relationships: Investment (Rusbuldt) Flashcards
(15 cards)
How is satisfaction in a relationship calculated?
A: Satisfaction = (Rewards – Costs) – Comparison Level (standards/expectations).
Q: What influences your Comparison Level (CL)?
A: Self-esteem, social norms, and past relationship experiences.
Q: How is commitment calculated according to Rusbult?
A: Commitment = Satisfaction – Alternatives + Investment.
Q: What are alternatives in Rusbult’s model?
A: Other people or situations that could provide more rewards or satisfaction than the current relationship.
Q: What are investments in a relationship?
A: Resources put into the relationship that would be lost if it ended.
Q: What are the two types of investments?
Intrinsic: Resources you directly put in (time, money, effort).
Extrinsic: Resources developed because of the relationship (shared house, children, memories).
Q: Give examples of tangible and intangible investments.
Tangible: Money (intrinsic), car (extrinsic).
Intangible: Time (intrinsic), memories (extrinsic).
Q: Why do investments influence commitment?
A: Because people want to avoid losing their investments, so they stay committed even if satisfaction is low.
Q: How does CLalt affect commitment?
A: The lower the CLalt (fewer/bad alternatives), the higher the commitment to the current relationship.
Q: What behaviors help maintain commitment despite dissatisfaction?
A: Ridiculing alternatives, positive illusions about partner, forgiveness, willingness to sacrifice, accommodation.
Q: What are the two forms of commitment?
Behavioral: Actions like accommodation and sacrifice.
Cognitive: Positive beliefs and illusions about the partner and relationship.
Q: When will Rusbult predict high commitment?
A: High satisfaction, low quality alternatives, and high investment size.
AO3 (1) investment (rusbuldt)
- Most research is self-report
- A weakness of the investment theory is that the research can be deemed as unreliable
- For example, a majority of research for Rusbult’s investment theory is done through self-report which means that the participants themselves have to provide the data for the investigator.
- This is a weakness as it means that participants could create biased answers based on what they think sounds best rather than what actually occurs in the relationship.
- However, it can be argued that self report methods can be reliable as participants are more likely to be honest as the researcher does not need to be present, thus increasing the usefulness of this kind of methodology.
- Despite this, the participants may change their answers to please the investigator or investigation
- Thus reducing internal validity of research into Rusbult’s investment theory.
AO3 (2) investment (rusbuldt)
- A strength of Rusbult’s theory is that it has practical application
- For example, investment theory can be used effectively in therapy like relationship counselling.
- This is a strength as couples can help to resolve relationship issues by identifying why someone may be satisfied or unsatisfied in the relationship and how to change it, increasing the usefulness of Rusbult’s model
- However, it can be argued that this cannot be applied to all relationships as in some cases people enjoy being unsatisfied whilst still investing into the relationship, therefore reducing the usefulness of equity theory
- Despite this, investment theory has real world application when it comes to therapy as it can be applied to most real world scenarios, increasing its utility
- thus increasing the external validity of the investment theory
AO3 (3) investment (rusbuldt)
- A strength of Rusbult’s theory of investment is that it can help to explain abusive relationships.
- For example, the theory that shows commitment = satisfaction – Comparison of Alternatives + Investments shows that people may stay in an abusive relationship as although they may be unsatisfied, they may be committed due to the intrinsic investments like time as well as extrinsic investments like memories.
- This is a strength of Rusbult’s investment model because it shows that it can be applied to real life relationships
- However, some psychologists would argue that this study lacks generalisability due to the fact that it only used women as participants. The presence of gender bias means that the results can not be applied to men in abusive relationships.
- Despite this, the research support is still a strength of Rusbult’s investment model as it shows that it can be used to explain abusive relationships. Increasing the real world application, and has provided a foundation for further more generalisable research to be conducted.
- Thus increasing the external validity of Rusbuldt’s theory of investment
