rusbult's investment model

what are the 3 major factors that maintain commitment in relationships?

• comparison with alternatives

• investment size

• satisfaction level

comparison with alternatives

• people have high level of satisfaction if have more rewards and fewer costs

• also tend to be committed if they believe there is no alternative to satisfy their needs

investment size

the number of resources people will lose if they leave the relationship

• intrinsic - things that are directly put into relationship, e.g. money, self-disclosure

• extrinsic - things that are brought to people’s lives through relationship, e.g. house, shared memories

satisfaction vs comittment

argued commitment is main factor that causes people to stay in a relationship

• this explains why dissatisfied partners may stay in a relationship

what are the maintenance mechanisms people use to keep relationships going?

• accommodation

• willingness to sacrifice

• forgiveness

• positive illusions

• ridiculing alternatives

little to no cultural bias

• researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 52 studies

• found support across individualist and collectivist cultures

• shows universality of model, so can be applied to wide range of relationships

• high ecological validity compared to SET and equity theory

explains abusive/toxic relationships

• if someone doesn’t want to lose an investment that they put into relationship they are more likely to stay even when costs are high

• explains what SET and equity theory couldn’t

• high ecological validity

reductionist

• may be oversimplified

• researcher argued it’s not just things we bring that count as investment, but also couple’s plans for the future

• may stay as they want to carry out plans

• there are more factors not considered, so not full explanation