Social Exchange Theory

• What is social exchange theory?

  Thibaut and Kelley (1959) claim that behaviour in relationships reflects the economic assumptions of exchange. We try to minimise losses and maximise gains (the minimax principle) We judge our satisfaction with a relationship in terms of the profit it yields.
• The rewards and costs that we experience within a relationship are subjective (what is costly for one person may be low cost for another) and also change over the course of a relationship.
• How are levels of profit measured in a relationship?

  • Comparison level
  • Comparison for alternatives
• What is the comparison level?

  The comparison level is the rewards that we believe we deserve. We will consider a relationship worth pursuing if our comparison level is high and our needs are being met.
• What factors influence our comparison level?

  • Our past experiences of relationships.
  • Social norms may influence what we perceive to be a reasonable level of reward.
  • Our self-esteem.
• Why may someone with low self-esteem be satisfied with a small profit or even a loss? How may this be different to someone with a high self-esteem?

  People with low self-esteem have lower comparison levels and so believe they deserve less.

  Someone with high self-esteem will believe that they deserve a lot more.
• What is the comparison for alternatives?

  Social Exchange Theory predicts that we will stay in our current relationship only so long as we believe it is more rewarding than alternatives.
• According to Duck the comparison for alternatives that we adopt will depend on the state of our current relationship. There are usually 'plenty more fish in the sea', so if the costs of our current relationship outweigh the rewards, then alternatives become more attractive.