Social exchange theory

• What did Thibaut & Kelly (1959) say about the social exchange theory (SET)?

  • The rewards of a relationship - the costs of the relationships = outcome
  • SET is an ,economic theory'
  • Uses concepts from economics and from operant conditioning
  • We form relationship if it is rewarding
  • We maximise our rewards and minimise our costs
  • We commit to the relationship if the outcome is profitable
• Where did the assumption that people try to maximise profits from a relationship come from?

  From the assumption that when people receive rewards from others they feel obliged to reciprocate
• What is a criticism of the profit/loss relationship SET?

  Rewards are subjective. your partner may not see the same things as rewarding.

  Similarly what we see as valuable or costly might change over the course of the relationship. What we see as rewarding during the formation may be less so during the maintenance etc
• What is the 4 stage model proposed by Thibault & Kelly?

  1. Sampling - the couple explores the rewards and costs in a variety of relationships (not just romantic) or observe others doing so
  2. Bargaining - the couple negotiates the relationship and agrees the rewards and the costs. this marks the start of the relationship where partners start to exchange
  3. Commitment - the couple settles into the evidence and the exchange of reward becomes fairly predictable. Stability increases as rewards and costs lessen
  4. Institutionalisation - norms and expectations are firmly established. settled down.
• Profit > comparison level = new relationship

  Profit < comparison level = current relationship
• What is the comparison level (CL) in SET?

  CL = how much of a reward you believe you deserve

  • Formed based on all our experiences of previous relationships and our views of what we might exchange from a particular exchange. influenced by social norms and media. Our CL changes as we acquire more data
  • If we judge the potential profit of a new relationship to exceed our CL, the relationship will be judged as worthwhile. If the outcome is negative (profit less than CL) we will be dissatisfied in the relationship
• What is CLALT?

  Comparing relationship with other potential partners. do we think we could gain greater rewards from another relationship?

  • If costs of a current relationship are greater than rewards, we assume the grass is greener on the other side. If we are satisfied we may not even notice any alternatives
• Give a study that supports the SET

  • Gottman and Levenson (1992) found that in successful marriage the ratio of positive to negative exchanges was around 5:1 but in unsuccessful marriages this was much lower at around 1:1 or less
• Give three strengths of SET

  • Based on social/economic approach: so people have free will and choice unlike in other theories (e.g sexual selection)
  • The CLALT helps to explain why somebody might terminate a relationship they were satisfied with (alternatives better)
  • Could help explain why people stay in abusive relationships
• Give two weaknesses of SET

  • Methodologies used: most studies investigating it are very artificial and lack ecological validity
  • It has inconsistent empirical research: Clark and Mills (1979) identified two different styles of couples (communal and exchange couples). In the communal couple they have positive regard for eachother and believe over time each will receive costs/benefits. The exchange couple are about here and now
• Give three evaluation points of SET?

  • Cultural bias (ethnocentric)
  • Portrays people as selfish & calculating - ignores meeting needs
  • May be applicable to other types of relationships e.g. friendships