social exchange theory

• what is social exchange theory?

  an economic theory of how romantic relationships form + develop
• what does SET assume?

  both partners seek to exchange rewards & costs like traders in a market place + partners act out of self-interest, aiming to maximise reward and minimise costs
• what do we judge a relationship by?

  the profit we get from it
• when is a satisfying + committed relationship achieved?

  rewards outweigh costspotential alternatives less attractive than current relationship
• what do rewards (profits) include?


  companionship, support, sex, praise
• what do costs (expenses) include?

  time, stress, compromise, opportunity cost
• what is opportunity cost?

  losing the opportunity to form other romantic relationships as you're in a committed relationship already
• give an example which explains how rewards and costs are subjective


  one partner loves cooking, so sees making the food for their partner as a rewardother partner hates cooking, so sees having to prepare the meal as a costthis explains why partners maintain relationships with eachother
• give an example to explain how perceptions of rewards and costs change throughout the relationship

  initially attracted to partner surprising you with holidays/gifts (reward) but it may become annoying later when you have financial commitments e.g. saving for a house deposit (cost) - explains why satisfaction changes over time in relationships
• what are two ways we measure profit in romantic relationships?

  comparison level (CL)comparison level for alternatives (CLalt)
• explain what comparison level is

  amount of reward we believe we deserve from a relationship CL changes overtime as we gain more information through other relationships, the media etc. some people might believe they deserve a relationship where costs > benefits e.g. abusive relationships
• what is CL based on?

  experience of previous relationships - provide expectations for present relationship e.g. treatment you received as a child, previous partners or parents' relationshipsocial norms - information from the media e.g. soap operas, books
• explain what comparison level for alternatives is

  we measure level of reward vs. cost in our current relationship and compare to potential profit available if we were in another relationship
• when is CLalt high?


  low rewards and high costs in current relationship
• when is CLalt low?

  high rewards and low costs in current relationship - satisfied with current and likely won't notice others
• SET suggests relationships develop through 4 stages - name and describe them

  sampling - explore rewards and costs by experimenting with them in our relationships + observing other peoples' relationships to find out what rewards we want and what costs we'll allowbargaining - beginning of relationship where partners exchange rewards and costs then settle for arrangements most profitable for each or they'll break it off commitment - as time goes on, rewards + costs get predictable, relationship is more stable as costs lessen and rewards increaseinstitutionalisation - rewards + costs now established as norms, partners are settled down
• give two weaknesses of SET as an explanation of the development of romantic relationships


  :( researchers don't accept the assumption that romantic relationships are based on exchange - Clark and Mills agree exchange occurs in professional relationships but romantic relationships are based on giving/receiving rewards without counting - SET based on faulty assumptions so invalid explanation :( research evidence to disprove that we 'watch the marketplace' for attractive alternative relationships - Miller - people who rated themselves as being in a highly committed relationship spent less time looking at images of attractive people - SET based on faulty assumptions so invalid explanation