equity theory

• what type of theory is equity theory?

  • economic
  • fairness
  • maximising rewards & minimising costs
• equity theory - formation & maintenance?

  • profit of both partners should roughly be same
  • maintenance of romantic relationship is only sustainable when theres equity as this is fair amongst both partners
• what is inequity?

  • when one partner puts more into relationship than they get out of it
• consequences of inequity?

  • they become distressed & dissatisfied in relationship
  • the greater the perceived inequity the greater the dissatisfaction
  • to ensure relationship is maintained adjustments in relationship need to occur to make sure there is equity
• negative inequity?

  • underbenefitting
  • when you are putting more into relationship than you are getting out of it
• positive inequity?

  • overbenefitting
  • when you are receiving more rewards in comparison to contributions you make to relationship
• * evidence from utne 1984?

  • carried out survery on 118 recently married couples aged 16-45yrs measuring equity
  • found that couples who perceived them to be more equitable were more satisfied than those who saw themselves as over/underbenefitting
  • showa equal rewards & costs lead to better more satisfactory romantic rs
• 4 X of equity theory?

  1. correlational
  2. ignores individual differences - sprecher 1986
  3. culturally biased - aumer ryan 2007
  4. gender biased - sprecher 1992
• X correlational?

  • does not allow psychologists to establish c & e
  • whilst can acknowlege theres rs between equity & satisfaction dont know if its equity influencing satisfaction/if being satisfised in romantic rs increases equity
  • use of self report questionnaire - problems with social desirability
  • asking p sensitive questions about how satisfised they are in rs may not be truthful about level of happiness within rs - inaccurate results
  • cannot establish cause & effect between satisfaction & equity
  • findings may be inaccurate reflection of extent to which equity helps maintain romantic rs
• X ignores individual differences?

  • sprecher 1986 believes that close rs is too complex to be all about profits & equity
  • does not account for selfless behaviour in rs
  • some people may not have fairness in terms of costs & rewards but they are happy to maintain rs due to emotions involved
  • ? population
  • some rs are still maintained even when theres no equity as its their individual preference to feel/not want more rewards & are happy receiving more costs
• X culturally biased?

  • theory assumes that need for equity to maintain rs is universal
  • aumer ryan 2007 found there are cultural differences in link between equity & satisfaction
  • couples in collectivist cultures are more satisfied in rs when theyre overbenefitting compared to individualistic cultures who needed equity to be satisfied
  • ? population
  • shows equity isnt necessarily needed to be satisfied in rs & cannot generalise it to all cultures
• X gender biased?

  • theres gender differences in relation to impact that inequity has on how male/female feels/reacts to it
  • sprecher 1992 found that women tend to be more disturbed when underbenefitting from rs & feel more guilt when overbenefitting than men
  • research suggests that gender of individual in rs cal alter their perception of fairness in rs
  • suggests that in order to maintain rs fairness is not always required & this will differ between each individual