Social Exchange

• Thibault + Kelly (1959)


  Argue an economic theory with partners seeing relationships similar to business of cost-benefit analysis, maximising the rewards and minimising the losses
• Rewards


  Self esteem, financial security, sex
• Costs


  Time, emotional instability, money
• Comparison Levels


  Comparing to previous partners/relationships to get an idea of how rewarding/costly the current relationship is
• Comparison to Alternatives


  Looking at other potential partners, determining if there is higher rewards with them
• (+) A03: Spreecher (2001)


  101 couples, when comparison levels for alternatives was high, commitment and satisfaction tended to be low producing a negative correlation, supporting influence of comparison levels in relationship satisfaction
• (-) A03: Rusbult (1983)


  Longitudinal questionnaire on cost, reward, comparison using 17 males and 17 females

  • Found that cost-benefit analysis applied less to the start of the relationship but was considered as it developed
• (-) A03: Subjective


  The terms cost and benefit are subjective between couples, having different focuses, not a generalisable theory for all couples as they interpret it differently