Commitment

Rusbuldt's Investment Model of Commitment

A cognitive explanation of human relationships suggesting that commitment is determined by three factors:

1. Satisfaction level

2. Perceived quality of alternatives

3. Investment size

Satisfaction Level

The extent to which the relationship meets your needs. It involves:

• High rewards: \text{love}, \text{support}, and \text{fun}

• Low costs: \text{conflict}, \text{stress}, and \text{effort}

Perceived Quality of Alternatives

An assessment of whether other options—such as potential new partners or being single—would be better or worse than the current relationship.

Investment Size

The resources a person has put into a relationship that would be lost if the relationship ended. It is divided into Intrinsic and Extrinsic categories.

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Investments

1. Intrinsic: \text{time}, \text{emotional energy}, \text{self-disclosure}, and \text{shared memories}.
2. Extrinsic: \text{shared friends}, \text{joint finances}, \text{pets}, \text{children}, or a \text{shared home}.

The Commitment Formula

\text{Satisfaction} - \text{Alternatives} + \text{Investments} = \text{Commitment}

Rusbuldt (1980) Role-Playing Experiment

Participants read an essay about a protagonist deciding whether to stay or leave a relationship. They imagined themselves as the protagonist and completed a questionnaire measuring commitment (e.g., likelihood of pursuing someone else).

Results of Rusbuldt (1980)

• No sex difference: Males and females responded similarly.
• Alternatives: Commitment was lower when an attractive alternative was available.
• Investment: Commitment increased as the level of investment increased.

Cognitive Explanation Summary (4 Marks)

The investment model posits that commitment is a cognitive calculation. Even if satisfaction isn't perfect, a large investment size and low quality of alternatives can maintain the relationship, providing a rough estimate of its longevity.