Equity Theory (Theories of romantic relationships)

What theory does it criticise?

Social Exchange Theory

What are partners concerned with?

Fairness in relationships

Who are dissatisfied?

Both under and over benefitters

When is fairness achieved in relationships?

When people feel they get approximately what they deserve from relationships: one partner’s benefits minus their costs, should equal another partner’s benefits minus their costs

What could over-benefitting cause?

Guilt and Shame

What could under-benefitting cause?

Angry and resentful

What happens when the feeling of unfairness goes on for a long period of time?

The more likely it is for a couple to break up.

How does perception of equity change over time?

It is perfectly normal for many people to put in more than they receive at the beginning of a relationship, but if it carried on like that for too long, it will lead to dissatisfaction.

However, what seemed unfair may become a norm as relationships progress - or a partner may work harder on the relationship to restore balance.

What is distribution?

Trade-offs and compensations are negotiated to achieve fairness in a relationship

e.g one partner may cook and the other may clean, each has their own role

What is dissatisfaction?

The greater the perceived inequality, the greater the dissatisfaction

e.g. someone who over benefits in the relationship will feel guilty and one who under benefits will feel angry

What is realignment?

The more unfair the relationship feels, the harder the partner will work to restore equity. Or they may revise their perceptions of rewards and costs

e.g. what was once seen as a cost (abuse, infidelity) is now accepted as the norm