RUSBULT’S INVESTMENT MODEL

    Cards (3)

    • Limitation - Oversimplifies investment
      Model oversimplifies investment in a one-dimentional way
      Researchers point out there is more to invest than the resources you have already put into a relationship
      In early stages, partners will have made very few actual investments
      Model extended by including investments partners make in their future plans
      Motivated to commit because they want to see plans for the future turn out
      = Model limited, fails to account for true complexity of investment, esp how planning for future influences commitment
    • Strength - explains abusive relationships
      Why does any rational person subjected to abuse stay in their relationship
      Researchers studied domestically abused women at a shelter
      Found that the most likely to return to an abusive partner reported having made the greatest investment & having the fewest attractive alternatives
      These women were dissatisfied with their rs but still committed
      = model shows satisfaction on its own doesn’t explain why people stay in rs, commitment & investment also play a part
    • Strength - research support
      Support by meta-analysis
      Review of 52 studies, late 70s to 90s
      11,000 ppts from 5 countries
      Found that satisfaction, comparison with alternatives, and investment size all predicted rs commitment
      Rs in which commitment was greatest were most stable & lasted the longest
      True for men & women, across cultures, & for homo and heterosexual rs
      = validity in rusbults claim that these factors are universally important features of romantic relationship
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