Rusbult's Investment Model

Created by

Jessyca

Cards (8)

What are the three factors that commitment depends on? 
Satisfaction
Commitment
Investment
Satisfaction factor
Based on the concept of comparison level. Satsfaction judged through rewards and costs.
2. Comparison with alternatives factor
CLalt results in partners comparing potential profit to the profit they have in their current relationship. This could also be compared with no relationship at all.
3. Investment factor
Investment is how much we will lose if the reationship ended.
The first type of investment is Intrinsic investments, e.g. money and posessions.
The second type of investment is extrinsic investments, these are inestmets formed together as a couple. e.g. mutual friends, children and memories together
Satisfaction vs. commitment
Rusbult et al (2011) argued that commitment was more important than satisfaction, it can help explain why dissatisfied partners choose to stay in a relationship as they have made an investment that they do not want to see go to waste.
Research support for Rusbult's Model 
Le & Agnew (2003) conducted a meta-analysis, reviewed 52 studies from the late 1970s to 1999. Together included 11,000 participants from five countries.
They conducted that relationships with the most commitment were the most stable and lasted the longest.
Rusbult's Investment Model explains abusive relationships. 
Rusbult & Martz (1995) studied domestically abused women at a shelter.
They found that those most likely to return to an abusive partner had made the most investments into the relationship and having the fewest attractive alternatives.
These women were dissatisfied but heavily committed
Rusbult's Investment Model oversimplifies investment. 
Goodfriend & Agnew (2008) extended Rusbult's original model by including investment into future plans (they are motivated to commit because they want to see their cherished plans for the future work out)
This means the original model is limited as it fails to recognise the complexity of investment.