Maintenance of Relationships

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aSocial Exchange Theory:

AO1:

This theory argues that the maintenance of romantic relationships is based on economic principles. Fundamentally, humans are selfish and run their relationships keeping an eye on the exchange of rewards and costs. Costs can include things such as financial burdens, embarrassment, disappointment etc, whilst rewards can include things such as money, attention and love. If the rewards outweigh the costs in a relationship then the individual will want to maintain the relationship, as it is said to be in a state of profit. However, if the costs outweigh the rewards in a relationship, then the relationship is said to be in a state of loss and the maintenance of the relationship will become threatened.

Comparison Level:

Thibault and Kelly argued that the assessment of the rewards and costs involved in maintaining a relationship will depend on what an individual has come to expect from previous relationships. In other words, we have a comparison level (CL), which represents the outcomes we believe we deserve on the basis of past experiences. In addition to this, we also run our relationship keeping an eye on the costs and rewards that would be associated if we were to form a relationship with someone else, known as the comparison level of alternatives (CLalt). If the CL suggests that a relationship is less rewarding than anticipated, or the CLalt offers a viable and more attractive alternative, the maintenance of the current relationship may cease.

AO2:

Simpson:

Asked participants to rate photos of members of the opposite sex for attractiveness. It was found that the participants who were already in a relationship rated the photos as less attractive, showing that alternatives are not considered as favorably when the current relationship is in a state of profit.

Rusbult et al:

Used the notion of exchange to explain why some women choose to remain in an abusive relationship. They argue that when investment is high (e.g. children), and alternatives are few (e.g. no where else to go, no money) a profit situation still exists and so the woman will remain in the relationship.

Equity Theory

AO1:

Equity theory is an extension of the underlying belief that we are all fundamentally selfish, with its central assumption that people strive to achieve fairness in their relationships and will feel distressed if they perceive unfairness. According to equity theory, any kind of inequity has the potential to cause distress. People who give a great deal but receive very little in a relationship will feel distressed, however, the same is true of those who give very little and receive a lot. Any inequity will lead to the maintenance of the relationship being threatened; maintenance requires equity.

AO2:

Stafford and Canary:

Asked over 200 married couples to complete measures of equity and relationship satisfaction. Findings revealed that satisfaction was highest for spouses who perceived their relationship to be equitable, followed by over-benefited and then under-benefited spouses, which supports the idea that people will feel distress if they perceive their relationship to be inequitable.

Clark and Mills:

Disagreed with the claim that all relationships are based on economic principles. They say that we may keep track of rewards and costs in exchange relationships (e.g. work colleagues), but with communal relationships (such as family, friends and lovers), we are more governed by a desire to respond to that other persons needs.