AO3

• A limitation is that social exchange theory has inappropriate central assumptions. Social exchange theory assumes that all relationships are based on costs and rewards, profit and loss, constant monitoring of satisfaction. However, Clark and Mills argue that romantic relationships are not exchange-based but communal-based. Partners do not keep score and would question commitment if they did. This suggests that quite a few relationships might not be exchange-based. For example, those where trust is a fundamental component.
• A limitation is that social exchange theory concepts are very vague. Unlike in research, real-world rewards and costs are subjective to each couple and hard to define because they vary. For example, having your partner's loyalty is not rewarding for everyone. Also, comparison levels are problematic. It is unclear what the values of comparison level and comparison level alternatives need to be before individuals feel dissatisfied. This means social exchange theory is difficult to test in a valid way.
• One limitation of social exchange theory is the direction of cause and effect. Social exchange theory claims that we become dissatisfied after we perceive costs. Outweigh rewards or alternatives seem attractive, but Argyle argues dissatisfaction comes first. Then we start to perceive costs and alternatives. Committed partners do not even think about alternatives. Therefore, considering costs or alternatives is caused by dissatisfaction rather than the reverse, which is a direction not predicted by social exchange theory.
• Kurdek and Schmitt - 185 couples. These comprised of 44 heterosexual married couples, 35 cohabiting heterosexual, 50 homosexual, 56 lesbian couples. Each lived together and did not have children living with them. They completed a questionnaire. They found for all, greater relationship satisfaction was associated with the perception of many benefits of the current relationship comparison level, and seeing alternatives as less attractive. These show that factors that predict satisfaction in same-sex couples are the same ones that predict satisfaction in heterosexual relationships