Rusbult's Investment Theory

• According to Rusbult what are the three major factors that maintain commitment in relationship?

  • Satisfaction Level
  • Comparison with alternatives
  • Investment size
• According to Rusbult what is your Satisfaction Level?

  • People will have a high level of satisfaction with relationships if they have more rewards (companionship, attention, emotional support) and fewer costs (arguments, time)
  • Additionally it is based on what you expect to receive - If you have high expectations your outcomes also need to be high to br satisfied
• According to Rusbult what is comparison with alternatives?

  • Perceptions of relational rivals or the extent to which the individuals most important needs can be effectively fulfilled outside the current relationship
  • Alternatives don't have to be other partners e.g. better outcomes by spending time with friends or focussing on work
• According to Rusbult what is Investment size?

  • Refers to all the the things you would lose should the relationship come to and end
• What are the two types of Investment?

  • Tangible - E.g. The house you bought with your partner
  • Intangible - E.g. The work and effort put in, which friends you get to keep and the memories you both made
• What is the maintenance of a relationship determined by?

  • Commitment level
• How can commitment be strengthened?

  • Satisfaction
  • Investment
• How is commitment weakened?

  • The presence of alternatives to the relationship
• Limitation of Rusbult's Investment model - Incomplete Definition:

  • Goodfriend and Agnew
  • There is more to investments than just resources you put in
  • Early relationships have few actual investments e.g. not cohabiting
  • Investments made into future plans - They commit as they want to see their plans work out
  • Fails to recognise true complexity
• Strength of Rusbult's Investment Model - Supporting Research

  • Le and Agnew - Meta Analysis
  • 52 studies from the 70's - 90's
  • 11,000 Ps from 5 countries
  • Satisfaction, alternatives and investment all predicted commitment
  • True for both men and women, across all cultures and for homosexual and heterosexual couples
  • Increases validity
• Limitation of Rusbult's Investment model - Correlational studies:

  • Strong correlations have been found between all important factors
  • Most studies do not allow us to conclude any of the factors actually cause commitment
  • Could be that increased commitment = increased investment
  • Direction of causality could be reversed
• Strength of Rusbult's Investment Model - Explains commitment in domestic violence relationships

  • Rusbult and Martz
  • Studied battered women at a shelter
  • Found that those most likely to return to abusive partner reported making the greatest investment and having the fewest alternatives
  • A victim of domestic violence does not have to be satisfied to stay