Equity Theory

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  • Equity Theory
    • SET says behaviour is a series of exchanges. 
    • Equity theory says people try to achieve fairness in relationships.
    • Any kind of inequity can make people feel distressed.
    • If we perceive inequality in our relationship we try to restore it. 
      • Put in less / more
      • Physically (or emotionally) leave the relationship
      • Change perception of inputs/outputs
    • Stafford and Canary (2006)
      • Asked 200 married couples to complete measures of equity & relationship satisfaction.
      • Partners who found it equitable – highest satisfaction 
      • Over-benefited partners – next highest satisfied
      • Under-benefited partners – least satisfied
    • Evaluation
      • Women perceive themselves as: more under-benefited, more disturbed at being under-benefited and feel more guilt when over-benefited
      • Cause and effect- Dissatisfaction with a relationship could cause inequity
      • Not everyone responds to inequity in the same way, therefore only one type of P behaves as predicted
        • ‘Benevolents’ are givers, and more tolerant of under-rewarded inequity
        • ‘Entitleds’ prefer to be over-rewarded
        • ‘Equity sensitives’ behave in accordance with equity theory, and are stressed in cases of inequity
      • Equity may not be as important in non-western societies as all research in western cultures

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