Equity

• • Support → Utne carried out a survey of 118 recently married couples from US which measured equity. They found that equity was higher in relationships that had been maintained. / Self report – social desirability. Only recently married so may change further into relationship. Sample
• • Support → Brosnan found that female capuchin monkeys became very angry if they were denied a rewards of grapes in return for playing a game, if another monkey, who had not played the game, received the grapes instead. They became so angry; they threw the food at the experimenter. Shows need for equity is innate. Monkeys are socially like humans. / Anthropomorphism so no cause and effect and can’t generalise. 
• • Biases → Aumer-Ryan found that there are cultural differences in the link between equity and satisfaction. Cultural bias. / Clark + Mills stated that equity has more prevalence in non-romantic relationships than romantic ones. In romantic relationship, there may be other factors such as being in love with the person or shared memories or possessions so less likely to keep track of equity and use that to determine whether they stay in a relationship or not – Investment theory so equity theory is reductionist.