social exchange theory

• Social exchange theory is an economic theory using concepts for operant conditioning
• SET claims we from a relationship if it is rewarding
• SET calculation:

  rewards - costs = outcome
• Social exchange theory

  we attempt to maximise our rewards and minimise our costs
• Thibault and Kelley ( 1959 ) developed social exchange theory
• Social exchange theory ( Thibault and Kelley 1959 ) assumes that people try to maximise the rewards they obtain from a relationship and minimise the costs
• Social exchange theory minimax principle - the exchange in SET is the assumption that when people receive rewards from others they feel obliged to reciprocate
• SET. The rewards in a relationship are subjective due to individual differences. If you find something rewarding in a relationship, your partner may not. This can cause issues in a relationship
• SET. What we see as a reward or a cost may change over the course of a relationship as relationships and people change over time
• SET stages:

  sampling

  bargaining

  commitment

  institutionalisation
• SET Sampling - A couple explores the rewards and costs in a variety of relationships, or observe others doing so
• SET Bargaining - a couple negotiates the relationship and agrees the rewards and costs. This marks the start of the relationship where partners begin to exchange
• SET Commitment - The couple settles into the relationship and the exchange of reward becomes fairly predictable. Stability increases as rewards increase and costs lessen
• SET Institutionalisation - norms and expectations are firmly established and the couple is settled down
• Comparison level - current relationship vs potential relationship

  "what do I have now?" vs "what could I have?"
• Comparison level (cl) equations:

  current relationship profit < CL = enter new relationship

  current relationship profit > CL = stay in current relationship
• Comparison level - how we measure profit in a romantic relationship

  CL = how much of a reward you believe you deserve to get
• Comparison level is based on all of our previous relationships and is also influenced by social norms and media. Our CL changes as we acquire more data for it to be set by
• If we judge the potential profit of a new relationship to exceed our CL, the relationship to be worthwhile.

  If the outcome is negative, with the profit less than the CL, we will be dissatisfied
• Comparison levels for alternatives ( CLA ) is used to give context to a current relationship
• Comparison level for alternatives ( CLA ) is whether we believe we could gain greater rewards from another relationship
• Comparison level for alternatives suggests that we will stay in our relationship as long as we see it to be more rewarding or profitable than the alternatives
• If the costs of a current relationship are greater than the rewards, we assume that we will be better off in another relationship.
• If we are satisfied in a relationship, we may not notice any alternatives
• SET AO3. Social exchange theory may not always be applicable.

  Clark and Mills argue that there are two types of relationships. The " exchange " relationship involves the social exchanges that SET predicts, however communal relationships do not keep score, as if we were really monitoring reciprocity, we may doubt the commitment.

  This shows that SET is not always applicable.
• SET AO3. Social exchange theory depends on the situation. 

  Miller (1997) found that couples in highly committed relationships spent less time looking at attractive people. This questions whether we are actually always comparing our relationship to other alternatives. This may because we don’t start counting rewards and costs or considering alternatives until we are dissatisfied. 

  This casts doubt on the theory as some elements depend on the situation.
• There is research support for the Social Exchange Theory. 

  Gottman and Levenson ( 1992 ) found that in successful marriage, there was a ratio of positive to negative exchanges of around 5 : 1, but in unsuccessful marriages it was much lower, around 1 : 1.

  This proves that having more positive exchanges can improve relationships, as the social exchange theory suggests. 
• SET AO3. The social exchange theory has real life application. 

  In IBCT (integrated behavioural couples therapy), couples are taught how to increase the proportion of positive exchanges and how to decrease negative exchanges in order to improve their relationship. 

  This shows that the Social exchange theory has real life benefits. 
• There is research support for the CLA.

  Sprecher ( 2001 ) found through a longitudinal study of 101 couples at an American university that the comparison level alternative was the most important variable in relationship satisfaction. The CLA Alt negatively correlated with satisfaction and commitment to the relationships, so if commitment is high then alternatives are low and vice versa. 

  This shows evidence of this CLA. 

  However, this study only shows correlation, not cause, therefore it may not actually be proving anything. 
• Social exchange theory is more selfish and looks at the overall costs and benefits in the relationship