Rusbults Investment Model

• What does the Rusbults Investment Model propose?

  When couples decide to continue relationship, more has to be considered than just current level of satisfaction.

  3 factors.
• 1st and 2nd factor of Rusbults Investment Model

  1. Satisfaction level
  2. Comparison with alternatives

  ---> Both based on idea of SET. High level of satisfaction ---> more rewards and fewer costs

  Asking if there's better alternatives
• 3rd factor of Rusbults Investment Model

  Investment size - resources that are lost when relationship ends. Investments are made before/during relationship. 2 types:

  1. Intrinsic- resources put directly into relationship e.g effort, money
  2. Extrinsic- resources that are brought into relationship e.g. children, shared memories

  Both can be rewarding or costly. Bigger investments= likeliness of relationship will increase
• Commitment

  Increases by amount of investment as person feels stable. Ending relationship would mean sacrificing resources. Mechanisms to maintain relationship

  • Accommodation- promoting relationship
  • Willingness to sacrifice- putting partners interests first
  • Forgiveness- accepting partners minor/major mistakes
  • Positive illusions- unrealistically positive about others alternatives
  • Ridiculing alternatives- minimising advantages of alternatives and viewing them in negative light
• What did Le & Agnew find?


  Meta analysis

  • Satisfaction, comparison with alternatives and investments greatly contributed to commitment
  • Commitment was a defining feature of long term relationships

  Aligns with model idea that high satisfaction, investments and CLalt combine to keep a relationship continuing.
• What did Rusbult find?


  Questionnaire with 17 males and 17 females in relationship. Questions included costs, rewards, investment and CLalt

  • Relationship developed ---> increased investment size ---> greater commitment and reduces perception of alternatives

  Suggests commitment is linked to amount of investment put into relationship.
• Strength of Rusbults Investment Model

  Nature vs Nurture

  Model is found across many cultures. Suggests human need for investment is developed through natural selection to help people survive and reproduce.

  Increases validity of model as it supports nature side of nature vs nurture debate
• Limitation of Rusbults Investment Model

  Reductionist

  Oversimplifed. Its not just about things we bring into relationship that counts as investment it could be our future plans. People may be committed to see their plans fulfilled

  Highlights model is complex as it has many factors
• Limitation of Rusbults Investment Model

  Evidence is unreliable

  Most evidence used comes from questionaries and self reports. Its subjective because findings cannot be generalised to all relationships because its based on ones perception of their relationship

  Decreases reliability- wont get consistent findings.