Equity Theory (ET)

This contains both AO1 and AO3

What is ET?

It is an improvement of SET and includes the importance of equity. This theory still accounts for rewards and costs.

How does ET explain relationships?

• About the costs being fair

  • This causes satisfaction and stability

What happens when there is a lack of equity?

• Over benefiting

• Under benefiting

What is over benefiting?

• One person gains more

  • Causes shame, guilt and discomfort

What is under benefiting?

• One person loses more

  • Causes hostility, anger and resentment

How is ET an improvement on SET?

• Not bases on the size of the reward and cost but how equal it is

• If a person experiences inequity they will be distressed and dissatisfied

• LT explanations

  • As the relationship develops a persons perception of equity changes

How do people deal with inequity?

• Leave the relationship

• Work harder to restore equity

• Change their cognitive state into thinking the costs are normal or inflate the rewards

Equity Theory AO3: Strength (how relationships change)

• ET considers how relationships change overtime

• The theory states that overtime people value different rewards and costs

• In a retired married couple house work may be valued differently

• Can explain LT relationships

Equity Theory AO3: Counterpoint

• However there is evidence which does not support ET

• McQuinn found that equity did not increase as time went on and did not predict what couples would stay together and what they would value

• Limits the predictability of the theory

Equity Theory AO3: Strength (support)

• There is evidence to support the ET

• Utne found that couples who thought their relationship was more equal were also more satisfied

• This study was also conducted on real life couples showing a corrleation between equity and satisfaction.

• Improves the real world application

Equity Theory AO3: Limitation (subjective)

• ET is subjective

• Huseman found that some people are less concerned with equity than the norm e.g. some people dont mind putting more effort into the relationship.

• On the other hand some people are more entitled and expect to do less.

• Therefore there are individual differenced and not everyone is concerned with equity