Social Exchange Theory

What is the social exchange theory

• economical theory

• relationship maintained focused on balance of rewards vs costs

Thibault and kelly state which principal

• relationship runs on minimax principle

• minimise costs whilst maximising profits

• REWARDS - COST = PROFIT

• rewards/cost = sex, quality time

What are the two things to remember from the social exchange theory

• rewards are subjective - what one person sees as significant the other may not

• what if seen rewarding/ costly early in relationship changes over time e.g. sex - more costly/ less likely to happen due to children so more busy

How do people assess how profitable there relationship is

• through comparison levels

• based on how much reward you think you deserve

What is your comparison level based on

• past experiences of relationships

• social-norms, media, books

Our CL changes over time as we acquire ‘more data’ to compare

According to ______ we will only stay in our relationship as long as we think its is more rewarding than alternatives

Duck

Stages of relationship development in which social exchanges happen within them

1. SAMPLING - exploring rewards or costs by experimenting in our own relationship or observing others

2. BARGAINING - starts to exchange rewards and costs, negotiate dynamics of relationship

3. COMMITMENT - sources of cost/ rewards become predictable - more stable relationship - rewards increase costs lessen

4. INSTITUTIONALISM - settled down because of norms of relationship - cost and rewards firmly established

Evaluate the social exchange theory

Cause and Effect

Research (e.g. Miller) shows that people in highly committed relationships spend less time looking at attractive alternatives.

However, this is correlational, so it does not show causation.

It is unclear whether:

• Ignoring alternatives leads to greater commitment (as SET suggests), or

• Being committed leads people to ignore alternatives

This weakens SET because it cannot establish the direction of cause and effect and may oversimplify relationship processes

Issues with measuring concepts

• Rewards (e.g. love, happiness) are subjective

• Costs (e.g. effort, stress) are hard to define and quantify

• Differ between individuals → lack of consistency

• Unclear what level of CL or CLalt leads to dissatisfaction

• Therefore, cannot be measured validly or reliably

• Weakness: reduces scientific credibility and makes SET difficult to test

Research support - Kurdek

• 185 childless couples - measured view on SET and relationship commitment using questionnaire

FINDINGS - most partners committed were the one who perceived they had the most rewards and least costs.

• benefitting in their currently relationship

• alternatives to current relationship less attractive

• has high external validity

Specher

• found comparison levels for alternatives were strong predictor of commitment in a relationship

• rewards were also important predictor of satisfaction

• some people appear to base relationship based on rewards and costs