AO3 SET

• Inappropriate assumptions underlying SET 

  • Many researchers don’t accept the economic metaphor underlying SET. 
  • SET claims relationship partherns return rewards for rewards and costs for costs and these actives are monitored. But if this kind of exchange monitoring was going on at the start of a relationship we would question the kind of commitment our partner wanted. 
  • Therefore SET is based on faulty assumptions can cant account for the majority of romantic relationships 
• Direction of cause and effect 

  • SET argues that dissatisafaction sets in when we suspect that costs outweigh rewards or alternatives are more attractive 
  • Michael Argyle points out that we don’t measure costs and rewards a relationship nor do we constantly consider the attractiveness of alternatives 
  • We only consider these factors when we are dissatisfied with the relationships 
• Problems with measuring SET 

  • Deals in concepts that are difficult to quantify 
  • Psychological rewards and costs are difficult to diffuse 
• artificial research

  The majority of studies supporting SET use artificial tests in artificial conditions 
• real world application

  • Individuals in unsuccessful marriages frequently report a lack of positive behaviour exchanges with their partner and an excess of negative exchanges 
  • Behaviour couples therapy is set to increase the proportion of positive exchanges within a relationship and decrease the negative ones