Rusbult’s investment theory

• what is Rubsult's investment theory?

  a development of SET which includes investment as a third factor deciding the extent to which individuals are committed to maintaining their relationship
• according to SET, when are partners satisfied?

  CL is high (get more out of relationship than they think they deserve)CLalt is low (present relationship is more rewarding than alternatives)
• what did Rusbult think about SET and why?

  thought it was an over-simplified, incomplete explanation of relationships if CL + Clalt were the only deciding factors in whether a relationship continues, it would end as soon as costs outweigh rewards or when a more attractive relationship becomes available but people stay in relationships despite abuse/other attractive opportunities
• what factors is the degree of commitment to a relationship affected by?

  CLCLaltinvestment
• what is investment?

  amount/importance of resources associated with the relationship the partners would lose if the relationship ended
• what are the two types of investment?

  intrinsic extrinsic
• what are intrinsic investments? give examples

  things we put directly into the relationship e.g. tangible (concrete) things like moneyor intangible (abstract) things like self-disclosure
• what are extrinsic investments? give examples

  things that have grown from the relationship e.g. tangible things like dog, car, childrenorintangible things like shared memories
• when do partners experience a high level of commitment to a relationship?


  partners feel they deserve rewards giventhere are no more attractive alternativesthey share lots of things between them + they've put a lot into the relationship
• what does the concept of commitment address?

  the problem with investment theory - it can't explain why partners work hard to maintain a rocky relationship they no longer find satisfying
• so why are partners committed to the relationship?

  they've invested into it and don't want to lose the possessions + emotional investments they made
• what will partners with a high level of commitment do?

  accommodation - act in a way that preserves the relationship
• how is accommodation achieved?


  behavioural strategiescognitive strategies
• what are behavioural strategies?

  things partners with a high level of commitment do for their partner e.g. sacrifice their needs for their partner's, forgive serious transgressions
• what are cognitive strategies?

  ways they think of their partner and potential alternatives e.g. positive illusions about their partner, ridiculing alternatives/other people's relationships
• give two strengths of Rusbult's investment model

  :) importance of high investment + low CLalt in maintaining commitment supported by research e.g. Rusbult and Martz found 'battered' women who were most likely to return to their abusive relationship were those who reported making greatest investment and having fewest attractive alternatives :) good application - explains why people stay in abusive relationships - stay because they've invested highly in the relationship + don't want to lose emotional investments + possessions - addresses issue with SET as it shows people don't need to be satisfied to stay in a relationship
• give two weaknesses of Rusbult's investment model

  :( supporting research is correlational - correlation ≠ causation e.g. may be a third factor increasing commitment + investment like religion/cultural beliefs so cause and effect not established between investment and commitment - IM lacks validity :( limited explanation - other research suggests it's oversimplified + fails to recognise complexity of investment like how couples can be committed early on when they've made little investment e.g. Goodfriend and Agnew suggested commitment can be increased by the couple wishing to see future plans work out - limited explanation