social exchange theory

• who created social exchange theory?

  • thibault & kelly
• what is underlying principle of SET?

  • that people are selfish & we form & maintain relationships based on what we can get out of it
• what type of theory is SET?

  • economic
  • we will form relationship if its rewarding to is
  • we attempt to maximise our rewards & minimise costs in relationship
  • we maintain relationship if outcome for us is profitable - more rewards than costs
• SET - relationship formation & maintenace?

  • if there are more rewards than costs in relationship it will be maintained
  • if there are more costs then we are put off the relationship
• SET & individual differences?

  • what people consider to be reward & cost is subjective
  • one person may consider something to be reward that different person may not
  • eg having children
• comparison levels?

  • this is product of our past experiences in other relationships & our general expectations
  • relationship will be maintained if potential profit exceeds our comparison levels - affected by self esteem/role models/movies
  • if your current partner exceeds CL relationship is maintained
• comparison levels for alternatives?

  • when we weigh up potential increase in rewards from alternative partner against any costs associated with ending current relationship
  • if quality of alternative is not higher relationship is maintained
  • if quality of alternative is higher than current partner relationship will not be maintained - can give you more rewards than current partner
• 2 * of social exchange theory?

  1. explains all romantic relationships
  2. evidence from simpson 1990
• 3 X of social exchange theory?

  1. oversimplifies complex human romantic relationships - argyle
  2. not as complex as rusbults investment model
  3. culturally biased
• * explains all romantic relationships?

  • as theory looks at rewards & costs cn be used to explain all romantic rs all all include rewards & costs no matter what sex of couple is
  • also in abusive rs abuse is cost but may still be rewards - having children/receiving gifts/financial security explaining why rs is maintained
  • population
  • takes into account subjectivity of perceived rewards & costs of each individual & thus can be generalised to every type of rs
• * evidence from simpson 1990?

  • showed p pictures of people & they had to judge their attractiveness
  • those who were in happy romantic rs were more likely to rate them lower than those who were not in happy romantic rs
  • shows that comparison level for alternatives is accurate as it demonstrates that those who are in happy romantic rs arent looking for alternatives as theyre receiving more rewards than costs so rs is maintained
• X oversimplifies complex romantic relationships?

  • argyle suggests saying rs is similar to balance sheet as SET does - all about rewards & costs is unrealistic
  • rs based on feelings & human emotion - theory does not take into account
  • not everyone is bothered by how much reward they gain in rs some care more about other person
  • fails to explain why those in non profitable costly rs still maintain romantic rs
  • ? ecological
  • isnt realistic explanation of rs
  • ungeneralisable to real life romantic experiences
  • may be other factors besides rewards & costs influencing formation & maintenance of rs
• X not as complex as rusbults investment model?

  • rusbults investment model not only considers rewards & costs in rs also consideres factors that affect commitment in rs
  • eg intrinstic - time/love/effort & extrinstic - children/money/home
  • its about maximising our rewards & doesnt explain deeper factors which can better explain how couples successfully stay together & maintain their romantic rs
• X culturally biased?

  • its more suited to individualistic cultures than collectivist cultures
  • this is because in individualistic cultures people care more about their own rewards
  • in collectivist cultures they are more concerned with others than themselves
  • eg wives in collectivist culture do all houseword & childcare whilst husband goes to work to earn money - may be receiving more costs than rewards but still manage to maintain rs
  • ? population
  • cannot be generalised to all cultures & explain why they still maintain rs despite having imbalances in their costs & rewards