Relationships - Rusbult's Investment Model

Rusbult’s Model

Satisfaction

comparing rewards and costs - judged on profit

CLalt

comparing current partner to other options or none at all

Investment

something lost when the relationship ends, it refers to the extent and importance of an input made by the person

Intrinsic Investment

resources put into relationship like time and money

Extrinsic Investment

resources obtained from relationship like a shared house and children

Satisfaction v Commitment

commitment outweighs satisfaction which explains why dissatisfied partners remain in the relationship

Relationship Maintenance Mechanisms

• accommodation

• willingness to sacrifice

• forgiveness 

• positive illusions

• ridiculing alternatives

AO3 - Research Evidence

• Le and Agnew reviewed 52 studies

• 11k ppts from 5 countries

• satisfaction, CLalt and investment proved commitment

• universality + validity

AO3 - Explains Abusive Relationships

• Rusbult and Martz studied battered women at a shelter

• found most likely to return to abusive partner put in more investment + less CLalt

• victim of IPV doesn’t have to be satisfied to commit

AO3 - Oversimplifies Investment

• Goodfriend + Agnew

• investment should include future plans

• motivated to commit to these

• fails to recognised complex investment

AO3 - Methodological Strengths

• evidence relies on subjective measures

• appropriate as it measures perception not objective size

• belief matching objectivity doesn’t matter