Relationships

• Rusbult‘s Investment Model suggests commitment is based on the rising and falling of which 3 factors?


  satisfaction, comparison level for alternatives, investment
• Waltser’s Equity Theory suggests the fairness of costs and benefits is changed through which 4 stages?


  profit, distribution, dissatisfaction, realignment
• Thibault and Kelly’s Social Exchange Theory says profit can be explained on what two levels?


  comparison level and comparison level for alternatives
• What are the 4 stages of Thibault and Kelly’s Social Exchange Theory


  sampling, bargaining, commitment, institutionalisation
• What is the strength of Social Exchange Theory?

  There is supporting research evidence from Sprecher who found relationships are maintained when high to CL and low to CL Alt which shows comparisons within and between relationships are a strong indicator of satisfaction
• What is a limitation of Social Exchange Theory? 


  Not all relationships are the same as Clarke and Mills says it ignores the communal couple who are less concerned with score keeping as they find it unattractive so the theory best provides an explanation for exchange couples
• What is a limitation of Social Exchange Theory?

  It is beta biased as it inappropriately minimises differences between men and woman but Prins found women place more importance on equity and when they feel under benefitted are likely to consider an affair so the theory is a more valid explanation for women
• What is a Comparison Level?

  The level we judge a relationship against based on the perception of other relationships had or seen
• What is a Comparison Level for Alternatives?

  The level on which we compare a relationship to other potential relationships
• What is a Positive Payoff Matrix?

  the benefits of a relationship outweigh the costs so it is likely to form and maintain
• What happens in the Sampling stage of Social Exchange Theory?

  experiment costs and benefits in different relationships
• What happens in the Bargaining stage of Social Exchange Theory?

  negotiate costs and benefits to maximise profit at the start of relationship
• What happens in the Commitment stage of Social Exchange Theory?

  predict exchange of costs and benefits as relationship maintained
• What happens in the Institutionalisation stage of Social Exchange Theory?

  mutually beneficial exchange of benefits firmly established as relationship becomes lasting