The Social Exchange Theory (SET)

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  • Social Exchange Theory (SET)
    • Comparison level
      • Thibaut and Kelley proposed that we develop a comparison level (CL) - a standard against which all our relationships are judged.
      • Comparison levels are the product of our experiences in other relationships and our general views on expectations of partners.
      • A relationship deemed worthwhile will exceed our current CL.
      • There are also comparison levels for alternative partners (CLalt) - a person weighs up a potential increase in rewards from a different person.
    • Profit and loss
      • This theory assumes that all social behaviour is a series of exchanges; individuals attempt to maximise their rewards and minimise their costs.
      • Social exchange- In society, people exchange resources with the expectation that they will earn a ‘profit’  
        • economic theories of human behaviour, stresses that commitment to a relationship is dependent on the profitability of this outcome.
    • A relationship is maintained if rewards exceed costs and the profit level is not exceeded by possible alternative relationships
      • Thibaut and Kelley et al (1959)
        • proposed a four stage model setting out how relationships could be maintained via predictable exchanges
          • 4 Stages Model
            • 4.INSTITUTIONALISATION Interactions are established and the couple ‘settle down’
            • 2.BARGAINING A relationship is ‘costed out’ and sources of profit and loss are identified
            • 3.COMMITMENT Relationship is established and maintained by  a predictable exchange of rewards
            • 1.SAMPLINGRewards and costs are assessed in a number of relationships
    • There are several different versions of SET, but underlying them all is the view that people are selfish.
      • Homans (1974)
        • believes that people view their feelings for others in terms of profits- that is, the rewards obtained from the relationships minus the costs.
      • HATFIELD - people in under-benefited rels = angry & deprived, over-ben rels = guilty & uncomfortable
    • Evaluation (AO3)
      • research concentrated on short-term rels, not on the consequences of long-terms rels, where maintenance = more important
      • perception is NOT a criticism of theory - that's how it actually is in rels. Someone's behav is based on their perception
      • doesn't consider emotions / feelings of people
      • ARGYLE - claimed methodology was artificial, with little relevance to real life
      • Selfish approach to maintenance / breakdown of rel -> selfish
      • theory applies to people who 'keep score' - people who are more suspicious and insecure. Suggetss theory only relates to people lacking confidence and mutuak trust
    • cultural bias
      • Moghaddam et al – such economic theories only apply to Western individuals with high mobility e.g. students who are typically mobile and many short-term
        • Where there is little time to develop long-term commitment it makes sense to be concerned with give and take
          • With less mobile populations, more likely to value security than personal profit

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