social exchange theory

• Thibault and Kelley (1959) - social exchange theory


  relationships are an interaction between two partners with their own needs and expectations - it is a series of exchanges where individuals attempt to maximise rewards (e.g., companionship, care) and minimise costs (e.g., financial investment, effort, conflict) (minimax principle) - a relationship is upheld if a cost-benefit analysis determines their to be a profit where rewards are greater than costs - it is an economic theory of relationships
• Thibault and Kelley believed that couples go through four stages in the development of a relationship:

  • sampling - considers costs and benefits of a new relationship
  • bargaining - exchange of costs and benefits, negotiating and identifying what is most profitable
  • commitment - costs and rewards become predictable, relationships become stable, rewards and costs lessen
  • institutionalisation - costs and rewards firmly established
• ao3 - application


  integrated behavioural couples therapy aims to increase the proportion of positive exchanges in a relationship and decrease the proportion of negative exchanges

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  Christensen et al. (2004) treated 40 distressed couples using IBCT and found 2/3 showed significant improvements - highlights a positive application of SLT as it encourages clients to provide benefits and minimise costs to help improve troubles relationships
• ao3 - contradiction


  SLT suggests that we consider rewards and costs right from the beginning of a relationship, but other psychologists have suggested that we don't do this nor do we constantly consider the attractiveness of others as their comparison level for alternatives suggest, as costs and rewards are only considered when we are dissatisfied with a relationship

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  research found those who rated themselves as being in a highly committed relationship spent less time looking at other people (contradicting CLalt) - direction of cause/effect inaccurate
• comparison level

  develops out of personal experience and influenced by social norms - the amount of reward an individual believes they deserve - a relationship is worth pursuing if the comparison level is high

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  there is a link between comparison level and self-esteem
• comparison level for alternatives

  concerns whether an individual could gain greater rewards and fewer costs if they were to have another relationship - SET suggests we will remain in the current relationship if the rewards are greater and costs lower than any other possible relationship - a satisfying relationship could possibly result in not considering the rewards and costs of an alternate relationship
• ao3 - neglects concept of equity

  SET presents human relationships as selfish (minimax principle) - presents a black and white view of mankind,, as we may be motivated by fairness rather than selfishness

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  a survey of 118 recently married couples measuring equity found that the couples who considered their relationship to be equitable we more satisfied than even those who were over-benefitting, this contradicts SET and provides an alternative explanation for the formation of relationships
• ao3 - subjective nature


  rewards, costs, CL, and CLalt are all subjective - what may be considered rewarding for one person (constant attention/praise) may be considered as a cost to another (clingy and overbearing), also, what may be initially considered a benefit may turn into a cost and one person may wish for a high level of benefits/costs, whilst others may be satisfied with a lower ratio

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  vagueness -> difficult to measure terms & difficult to provide applicable research support for them - could be viewed as a strength as accounts for individual differences based on experience
• we act out of self interest to maximise rewards and minimise costs - relationships end because we don't believe we are getting the rewards we deserve (CL) and/or we could receive better rewards and fewer costs with another partner (CLalt)