equity theory

what is equity theory?

people are most comfortable when what they get out of a relationship is roughly equal to what they put in

who came up with equity theory?

walster et al

what is the aim of stafford & canary?

to discover how equity & satisfaction predicted the use of maintenance strategies typically used in marriage

what was stafford & canary’s procedure?

• asked 200 married couples to complete measures of equity & satisfaction

• also asked questions about use of maintenance strategies

what did stafford & canary find?

• satisfaction highest for equitable relationships

• followed by over-benefitted partners

• under-benefitted husbands had lower levels of maintenance strategies than over-benefitted

what is the formula of equity theory?

partner 1’s benefits - costs = partner 2’s benefits - costs

what do people experience if they are over-benefitted?

• pity

• guilt

• shame

what do people experience if they are under-benefitted?

• anger

• sadness

• resentment

what did schafer & keith do?

surveyed hundreds of married couples who felt their marriage was unequitable because of an unfair share of household responsibilities

what did schafer & keith find?

• during child rearing - wives reported feeling under-benefitted & husbands over-benefitted

• honeymoon + empty nest - more equity + satisfaction

what did hatfield & rapson suggest?

the concern on equity depends on the stage of the relationship

how do stages effect equity?

• initial - important

• committed - less concerned

• marriage - little to no concern

what 3 ways did hatson & rapson say people are motivated to restore equity?

• restoration of actual equity

• restoration of psychological equity

• leaving the relationship

what are the weaknesses of equity theory?

• equity sensitivity - huseman et al - benevolents, equity sensitives, entitled - individual differences

• gender differences - demaris et al - women see themselves are more under-benefitted - more disturbed by inequity - more likely to be negative

• cultural differences - aumer-ryan et al - equity important in all - men and women in jamaica least equitable

• causality - clark - people dont think of relationships like this - already a sign of dissatisfaction - dissatisfaction causes thinking, reversed

what are the strengths of equity theory?

• supporting evidence - non human primates - brosnan & de waal - female capuchin monkeys became angry if denied a prize - angrier if another monkey got their prize undeserving - ancient origins