AO1

• What doe social exchange theory suggest?

  Relationships are formed using’ cost-benefit’ analysis
• Who suggested the Social Exchange Theory (SET)?

  Thibault and Kelly
• Social Exchange Theory suggests that behaviour in relationships reflect the economic assumptions of romantic relationship. We try to:

  • Minimise costs
  • Maximise gains
  • (Minimax principle)
• What are some possible costs?

  Time, stress, energy, compromise, opportunity cost (cannot invest elsewhere)
• What are some possible rewards?

  Presents, companionship, feelings of being loved/cared, emotional support, improved self esteem, sex
• What is the first way we measure the profit in a romantic relationship?

  Comparison Level (CL): Amount of reward you believe you deserve to get i.e. How does it compare with what I should expect?
• Where do we get out comparison level from?

  • Previous relationships: it has taught the person to expect more or less from a partner
  • Social norms: images of romance in books, films TV programmes, social media
  • Observation: People who have divorced or separated parents may have a different CL to those with parents who are still married
  • Self Esteem: Low= satisfied with gaining a small profit (even a loss) High= believe they worth a lot more
• What is the second way we measure the profile in a romantic relationship?

  Comparison level for alternatives: How does it compare to what I could be getting from someone else? Can I gain greater rewards and fewer costs from another relationships (or from being on our own)? Could I do better?
• Social exchange theory predicts that we will stay in our current relationship only if we believe it is more rewarding than the alternatives
• What are the stages of relationship development?

  1. Sampling stage
  2. Bargaining stage
  3. Commitment stage
  4. Institutionalisation stage
• What does the Sampling stage (1) include?


  Exploring rewards and costs of social exchange in relationships or by observation
• What does the bargaining stage (2) include?


  Beginning a relationship, romantic partners start exchanging rewards and costs, negotiating and identifying what is most profitable
• What does the Commitment stage (3) include?


  Costs and rewards become predictable relationship becomes stable as rewards increase and costs lessen
• What does the Institutionalisation stage (4) include?


  Partners are settled down, rewards and costs are firmly settled