AO1

• According to Rusbult et al. what are the three factors of commitment?

  1. Satisfaction
  2. Comparison with alternatives
  3. Investment
• What is the investment model a development of?

  Social exchange theory
• What is satisfaction based on?

  Concept of comparison level.
• A satisfying relationship is judged by comparing rewards and costs. It is seen to be profitable if it has many rewards and few costs. Each partner is generally satisfied if they are getting more out of the relationship than they expect based on previous experience and social norms
• Comparison with alternatives include not just relationships with other people but the possibility of having no romantic relationship at all
• What is comparison with alternatives?

  A judgement that partners make concerning whether a relationship with a different partner would bring more rewards than costs
• What is an investment?

  The resources associated with a romantic relationship which partners would lose if their relationship were to end
• What are the two major types of relationships according to Rusbult et al. ?

  • Intrinsic investments
  • Extrinsic investments
• What are intrinsic investments?

  Any resources we put directly into the relationship. They can be tangible things such as money and possessions. They can also be resources less easy to quantify (intangibles) such as energy, emotion and self disclosures
• What are extrinsic investments?

  Resources that previously did not feature in the relationship but are now closely associated with it. Tangibles include possessions bought together (e.g. a car), mutual friends and children. A good example of an intangible is shared memories
• If the partners in a relationship experience high levels of satisfaction, and the alternatives are less attractive and the sizes of their investment are increasing then we can confidently predict that partners will be committed to the relationship
• What is the main psychological factor that causes people to stay in romantic relationships?

  Commitment (satisfaction is a contributing factor). This is an important distinction because it can explain why dissatisfied partners choose to stay in a relationship
• Why are partners committed according to Rusbult?

  They have made an investment that they do not want to see go to waste. Therefore they will work hard to maintain and repair a damaged relationship, especially when it hits a rough patch.
• How is commitment expressed in relationships daily?

  Maintenance mechanisms
• According to the model, enduring partners will promote the relationship (Accommodation) and put their partner’s interests first ad forgive them for serious trasnsgression (forgiveness)
• Committed partners are unrealistically positive about their partner (positive illusions) and negative about tempting alternatives and other people’s relationships (much more so than less committed partners)