Equity theory

• What is equity theory?

  • What matters most in a relationship is equity. Both partner’s overall profit is roughly the same. This is not the same as equality where the profit would be exactly the same for both.
• Example of in/equity?

  • If one partner over benefits and one under benefits, this means that there is a lack of equity.
  • The over benefitting person will feel guilt and shame but the person under benefitting will feel dissatisfaction (greatest person affected in this relationship) in the form of anger and humiliation. 
• Equity change over time?

  • One study surveyed 100’s of couples and identified couples who felt they were inequitable because of a division of unfair domestic responsibilities.
  • Women looked after their child, they felt under benefitted compared to the man.
  • Honey-moon and empty nest periods were found opposite to this, feeling equity and marital satisfaction seemed to increase. 
• Supporting study for equity?

  • Stafford and Canary - They asked over 200 married couples to complete measures of equity and relationship satisfaction.
  • They found that there was most satisfaction in equitable spouses, followed by over benefitted spouses and under benefitted spouses.
  • This supports the predictions from equity theory.
• Negative evaluation for gender bias?

  • Equity theory is beta gender biased as differences are ignored.
  • Females are more concerned with this than males.
  • One study investigated whether marital inequity is associated with marital disruption.
  • The study found that in 1500 women that the more under benefited the women felt, the more likely divorce was to happen.
  • However, this cannot be said for men. Equity theory is more applicable to females than males.
• Negative evaluation regarding individual differences?

  • It ignores individual differences in equity as not all partners are involved with achieving equity.
  • Some people are benevolents who are prepared to invest more into the relationship than they receive.
  • Some people are entitled and believe that they have a right to be benefitted and not feel guilty.
  • This shows that equity theory is not universal as it does not apply to everyone. 
• Negative evaluation regarding reductionism?

  • It simplifies the theory into equity and inequity.
  • It ignores factors like instinct and reproductive success.
  • It also ignores emotion; people in inequitable relationships stay because they love their partner.
  • Abused spouses are defensive of their partner even when their partners are being prosecuted for abuse.
  • Equity theory ignores the importance of investment for the success of a relationship like in Rusbult's investment model.