AO1

• What is equity theory?

  An economic theory of how relationships develop. As such, it acknowledges the impact of rewards and costs on relationship satisfaction but criticises social exchange theory for ignoring the central role of equity: the perception that partners have about whether the distribution of rewards and costs in the relationship is fair
• What is the central role of equity according to the theory?

  The perception that partners have about whether the distribution of rewards and costs in the relationship is fair. Most people need to have balance rather than profit in the relationship
• Who suggested equity theory?

  Walster et al.
• What does equity mean?

  Fairness
• According to Walster et al., what matters most with equity is that both partners’ level of profit is roughly the same. This is not the same as equality where costs and rewards have to be the same (i.e equal) for each partner.
• What happens when there is a lack of equity?

  One partner over-benefits and the other under-benefits from the relationship and according to equity theory, this leads to dissatisfaction and unhappiness
• What could the under-benefitted partner feel?

  The greatest dissatisfaction, in the form of anger, hostility resentment and humiliation
• What could the over-benefitted partner feel?

  Guilt, discomfort and shame
• Satisfaction is about perceived fairness
• Equity theory predicts a strong correlation between perceived inequality and dissatisfaction
• What makes us most dissatisfied?

  A change in the level of perceived equity as time goes on. For example, at the start of the relationship it may feel perfectly natural to contribute more than you receive but if the relationship develops in a way that you continue to put more in than you get out, you will not feel as satisfied as in the early days
• How does the under-benefitted partner deal with inequity?

  Usually motivated to make the relationship more equitable as long as they believe it is possible to do so and that the relationship is salvageable. More unfair feeling = harder they will work to restore equity
• Another possible outcome of inequity is a cognitive one where the under-benefitting partner revise their perceptions of rewards and costs so the relationship feels more equitable to them, even if nothing changes. What was once seen as a cost earlier on in the relationship is now accepted as the norm