Rusbult's Invesment Model

• What model follows on from SET and has similar elements?

  Rusbult’s Investment Model
• What is the 'glue' that holds relationships together according to Rusbult?

  Commitment
• What are the three factors that commitment depends on in Rusbult’s Investment Model?

  Satisfaction, investments, alternatives
• How can commitment be strengthened according to Rusbult’s model?

  Through satisfaction and investments
• What weakens commitment in a relationship?

  Presence of alternatives
• What economic theory is Rusbult’s Investment Model similar to?

  Social Exchange Theory (SET)
• What does satisfaction depend on in Rusbult’s model?

  Comparison level (CL)
• What makes a relationship satisfying according to Rusbult?

  Many rewards and few costs
• What are the types of rewards that contribute to satisfaction?

  Support, sex, companionship
• What does 'comparison of alternatives' involve in Rusbult’s model?

  Assessing if needs are better met elsewhere

  
• What does 'alternatives' refer to in the context of Rusbult’s model?

  Possibilities of having no relationship
• What is considered an intrinsic investment?

  Resources put directly into the relationship
• What are extrinsic investments?

  Resources that previously did not feature in the relationship
• Why might dissatisfied partners stay in relationships?

  High level of investment
• What is the main factor that causes people to stay in romantic relationships?

  Commitment
• What are the relationship maintenance mechanisms in Rusbult’s model?

  • Accommodation: Changing behavior to avoid arguments
  • Willingness to sacrifice: Prioritizing partner's interests
  • Forgiveness: Forgiving partner's mistakes
  • Positive illusions: Focusing on partner's good traits
  • Ridiculing alternatives: Ignoring other potential partners
• How does Rusbult’s model explain why Christy continues in her relationship?

  High investment and commitment despite dissatisfaction
• What is a strength of Rusbult’s Investment Model according to research?

  Research support from a meta-analysis
• How does Rusbult’s model explain why people stay in abusive relationships?

  High investment and few alternatives

  
• What did Rusbult and Martz (1995) study reveal about abused women?

  Greatest investment led to returning to partners
• What is a weakness of Rusbult’s Investment Model regarding investment?

  It oversimplifies the concept of investment
• What is a limitation of the research supporting Rusbult’s model?

  It is based on correlational research
• What does correlational research indicate about commitment and investment?

  Strong correlations but unclear causation

  
• What is unclear about the model's identification of commitment causes?

  Whether it identifies causes or associated factors