Social Exchange Theory

• Social Exchange Theory

  views romantic relationship behaviour as a series of exchanges based on rewards, costs and profit. Each person attempts to maximise their rewards while minimising their costs.
• Rewards

  seen as pleasurable and beneficial, which may include company, security, intimacy etc. 
• Costs

  can be anything that occurs that is viewed as a loss to the individual due to being in the relationship e.g. effort, financial investment, time or arguments
• The costs subtracted from rewards

  equals in a perceived profit or loss. This theory proposes relationships are maintained with further commitment as long as the individual perceives a profit occurring.
• the comparison level

  based on previous experiences of relationships, the person’s expectations of the relationship and a comparison of possible alternative relationships that may be available.
• If a person judges the current relationship as offering poor value based on this comparison level they may be motivated to end it or continue to maintain it provided the profits exceed this comparison level. 
• sampling

  we consider the potential rewards and costs of a relationship and compare it with other relationships available at the time
• bargaining

  The couple negotiates the relationship and agrees the rewards and costs
• commitment

  the couple settles into the relationship and the exchange of reward becomes fairly predictable
• institutionalisation

  The relationship norms are developed which establishes the patterns of rewards and costs fro each partner which is firmly established
• comparison level for alternatives

  The level of satisfaction also depends on the rewards and costs that would be involved if they formed a relationship with someone else
• Lacks face validity

  the fact that it portrays relationships purely on a profit and loss basis which many researchers reject as lacking face validity
• research support for comparison levels for alternatives

  Sprecher (2001)

  • conducted a longitudinal study of 101 couples who were dating within the US at a university.
  • Results found that the exchange variable most highly associated with relationship commitment was the partners comparison level for alternatives.
  • Showed how the presence of alternatives was consistently and negatively correlated with both commitment and relationship satisfaction for both males and females. 
• research spport for social exchange theory

  Hatfield (1979) looked at people who felt they were over- benefitting or under-benefitting in their relationships. Those under-benefitting reported to feel angry and deprived while those over-benefitting felt guilty and uncomfortable; neither wished to maintian the relationship
• Rusbult & Martz (1995): real life application

  found that women who were physically abused by their partners and living in a women's refuge were likely to return to their abusive partners as they lacked better alternatives often due to poor education levels, no job prospects and little access to money. (the profits of remaining exceeded the costs)
• culturally biased

  western individualistic culture focuses on the needs of the individuals hence the primary focus being on profits for each person within the romantic relationship. However in collectivist cultures social exchange theory may not necessarily apply, for example where arranged marriages still take place.