Social Exchange Theory

Created by: caitlin
Created on: 19-05-14 20:26

Thibault and Kelly: Individuals engaged in relationships are motivated to MAXIMISE their rewards (affection, sex, companionship) and MINIMISE their costs (financial, emotional)

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Profit and Loss (Commitment to relationship is dependent to the profitability of the outcome)

people exchange resources with the expectation that they will gain a profit that will exceed to cost. rewards such as; companionship or sex. costs may be effort, financial investment and time wasted.

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Comparison Levels

Thibault and Kelly proposed we develop CLs to judge whether one person offers something better or worse. CL is experience from other relationships or general views of what we expect.

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if we judge the potential profit in a new relationship to exceed out CL, he relationship is worthwhile and other person will be seen as attractive. if the final result is negative we will be dissatisfied and the person will appear less attractive

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Comparison Levels for alternatives

individual weighs up a potential increase in rewards from a different partner, minus any coss associated with ending of current relationship. A new relationship can take the place of the current one if its profit level is significantly higher

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Profit and loss Commentary - Rusbult and Martz

Notion of exchange explains why some women stay in abusive relationships. Rusbult and Martz argue that when investments are high (children, financial security)and alternatives are low (nowhere to live, no money) so s the most profitable solution

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Duck and Sants

critices SET for focusing too much on the individual's perspective and ignoring the social aspect of the relationship e.g. how they communicate and interpret shared events.

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Cultural Bias (Moghaddam)

suggests that ‘economic’ theories only apply to the western relationships where we are very mobile, so short term relationships are more concerned with give and take. Compared to collectivist where they are less mobile and more traditional

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Card 2

Front

people exchange resources with the expectation that they will gain a profit that will exceed to cost. rewards such as; companionship or sex. costs may be effort, financial investment and time wasted.

Back

Profit and Loss (Commitment to relationship is dependent to the profitability of the outcome)

Card 3

Front

Thibault and Kelly proposed we develop CLs to judge whether one person offers something better or worse. CL is experience from other relationships or general views of what we expect.

Back

Card 4

Front

Back

Card 5

Front

Back

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Social Exchange Theory