Equity theory

• Research support- A03

  Ultne et al. (1984)

  • conducted a survey with recently married couples who’d been together for more than 2 years before marrying
  • those who thought their relationship equitable were more satisfied than those who saw themselves as over or under benefiting

  This study supports the central prediction of equity theory that equity is a major concern of couples and is linked with satisfaction
• Contradicting research- A03

  Breg and McQuinn (1986)

  • found that equity didn’t distinguish between relationships which ended and those that continued
  • found other variables like self disclosure were more important

  So the validity of the theory questioned

  • because the predictions of the theory aren’t supported by research
• Not valid in all cultures- A03

  Aumer-Ryan et al. (2007)

  • found that couples in individuistic cultures were most satisfied when their relationship was equitable
  • but partners in a collectivist culture were most satisfied when overbenefitting
  • same for both men and women and so can’t be explained by gender differences

  Suggests that the theory is limited

  • Because it only applies to some cultures
• What is equity?

  Fairness
• SET suggests that partners aim to maximise rewards and minimise costs

  • but is criticised for ignoring the role of equity and how partners want to perceive the distribution of costs and rewards in their relationship as fair
• SET fails to take into account the need most people have for balance rather than profit in a relationship
• Walter et al. (1978)

  • propose that equity is more important where both partners’ level of profit should be roughly the same
• Under and over benefitting can lead to dissatisfaction
• Equity is about fairness

  • not the size or amount of rewards and costs that matters instead the ratio of the 2 to each other
  • e.g. if one partner is disabled they may not be able to do certain chores but compensate in other areas, so both partners still feel a sense of fairness
• What feelings does an underbenefitting partner feel?

  Anger, hostility, resentment and humiliation
• What‘s the difference between equity and equality?

  With equality costs and rewards would have to be the same while equity is where both partners overall profit is roughly the same
• What are the feelings of an overbenefitting partner?

  Guilt, discomfort and shame
• When do partners feel satisfied?

  When they perceive fairness
• When there’s a lack of equity, one partner over-benefits and the other under-benefits from the relationship

  • according to equity theory this is a recipe for dissatisfaction and unhappiness
• Sense of inequity impacts negatively on relationships
• The greater the perceived inequity, the greater the dissatisfaction
• Equity theory predicts a strong positive correlation between the 2
• Changes in equity occur during a relationship

  • At the start of a relationship it may feel fine to contribute more than you receive
  • if that carries on as the relationship develops where one person continues to put more in and get less out, then they’ll start to feel dissatified
• What are the 2 types of ways we deal with inequity?

  Behavioural and cognitive
• What is the behavioural method of dealing with inequity?

  The underbenefitted partner is motivated to make the relationship more equitable if they believe it is salvageable

  • the more unfaif the relationship feels the harder they’ll work to restore equity
  • the greater the inequity the harder it is to restore equity
• What is the cognitive method to dealing with inequity?

  A dissatisfied partner might revise their perceptions of rewards and costs so the relationship feels more equitable even if nothing changes

  • What was once perceived as a cost can become accepted as a norm in the relationship
• Changes in perceived equity

  • what makes us the most dissatisfied is the change in level of perceived equity as time goes on
  • E.g. at the start of a relationship it may feel perfectly natural to contribute more than you receive but if the relationship develops where they continue to put more into the relationship and gets less out of it, it won’t feel as satisfying as it did earlier