theories of romantic relationships: social exchange

• thibaut + kelley:

  • commitment is dependent on profitability
  • if rewards outweigh costs relationship is worth maintaining - rewards = companionship, sex costs = stress, energy
  • value of rewards + costs can change over relationship
• comparison level:

  • used to judge whether person is worth being in relationship
  • product of relationship experiences + expectations - influences by social norms + media + changes as we gain experiences
  • if potential profit exceeds comparison level - relationship worthwhile
• comparison levels for alternatives:

  • person weighs up potential increase in rewards from different person minus any costs associated with ending current relationship - can take place of other if profit is higher
  • more rewarding a partners alternative = depend less on current one
• stages of relationship development:

  • sampling - explores costs + rewards by experimenting
  • bargaining - beginning of relationship, exchanging rewards/costs
  • commitment - costs/rewards become predictable, more stable
  • institutionalisation stage - settled, norms established
• EVALUATION: research support for CLalt

  • sprecher - longitudinal study, 101 couples in us uni - clalt was predictor of commitment
  • when clalt high, commitment + satisfaction low for both sexes
  • people stay as long as its more profitable than alternatives
• EVALUATION: cause and effect

  • argyle - rarely start assessing costs/rewards before feeling dissatisfied
  • being unhappy can lead to questioning whether there are more alternatives + costs
  • contradicts social exchange - assesssing profit is way relationship is maintained
• EVALUATION: reductionism

  • pure focus on reward/cost, may not be possible to quantify costs + establish profit in real life
  • doesnt explain why people stay in abusive relationships
  • holistic approach may be better suited to establish complexity