A01 Equity Theory: Theories Of Romantic Relationships

• Equity Theory


  Another economic theory which develops in response to a criticism to SET. Maximising rewards and minimising costs is important but SET fails to take into account the need most people have for equity in a relationship.
• The role of equity

  Equity is about fairness

  Walster states that what matters most with equity is thatboth partners' levels of profit should be roughly the same. Lack of equity is when one one partner overbenefits and the other underbenefits leading to dissatisfaction which is an example of inequity. Underbenefitted feels greatest dissatisfaction in terms of anger, hostility but overbenefitted feels guilt and shame.
• Equity and equality

  According to equity theory, it is not the size or amount of the rewards and costs that matters, it's the ratio of the two to each other. If one partner puts a lot into the relationship, but at the same time gets a lot out of it, they are likely to feel satisfied. Satisfying relationships are marked by negotiations to ensure equity, the rewards are distributed fairly (not necessarily equally) between partners which inevitably involves making trade-offs.
• Consequences of inequity


  A partner who is the subject of inequity will become distressed and dissatisfied with the relationship if this state of affaris continues for long enough. The greater the perceived inequity, the greater the dissatisfaction. Equity theory produces a strong correlation between the two. This applies to both overbenefitted and underbenefitted partners to the extent they bothh experience inequity.
• Changes in perceived equity


  What makes us most dissatisfied is a change in the perceived equity as time goes on, for example at the start of a relationship it may feel perfectly natural to contribute more than you receive but as it develops in such a way that you continue to do this and get less out of it it will not feel as satisfying as it once did.
• Dealing with inequity


  Those partners who really want to maintain the relationship may work hard to make relationship more equitable as long as they believe their relationship is salvageable. The more unfair the relationship, the more work will be put in to restore equity or revise perceptions of rewards and costs (cognitive)