Social Exchange Thoery & Equity Theory

Social Exchange Theory

• An economic model of relationships where people weigh rewards and costs to determine their satisfaction and commitment.

• People assess whether the rewards (e.g., love, support, companionship) outweigh the costs (e.g., effort, conflict, emotional labor).

• If the benefits exceed the costs, they are more likely to stay in the relationship.

• people are inherently selfish

  • even if it is unfair, as long as they personally feel the rewards outweigh the costs.

Comparison Level (CL)

• Expectation of outcomes people think they should receive in a relationship

• Standard with which people determine how satisfactory a relationship is; what they feel they deserve

• More satisfied when outcomes meet or exceed CL

Comparison Level for Alternatives (CLalt)

• People compare their relationship to other potential partners or single life. If they believe they could have a better relationship elsewhere, they may leave.

• CLalt represents the lowest level of outcomes a person will accept in a relationship based on their available alternatives.

• Greater commitment: If a person believes their current relationship far exceeds their alternatives, they will stay and feel more committed.

• Less commitment: If a person perceives many good alternatives, they may be less committed and more likely to leave.

• People are more dependent on their relationship when they perceive few or no alternatives.

Investment Model Of Commitment

Research Examples for SET

• Marriages

  • When rewards outweigh costs = greater happiness, less conflict & stress

• Violence and Abuse

• Different types of Commitment

Equity Theory

• Examines whether the distribution of resources in a relationship is fair or equitable

• Determined by comparing the ratio of contributions and benefits

• People with equitable relationships--most satisfied

Determined by comparing the ratio of contributions and benefits

• Overbenefited: more benefits and less contributions to relationship

• Underbenefited: more contributions and less benefits to relationship

• Equitable: each person contributes & benefits from the relationship equally

Equity Thoery argues and reality

ARGUES:

• People want fair relationships and will work to create or restore equity

REALITY

• Often, people attempt to maximize benefits & perceive themselves as contributing more than they actually do

Culture & Equity Thoery

• These expectations of equity can be shaped by social norms, cultural values, and personal beliefs about what constitutes fairness within a marriage.

• Research consistently shows that in many heterosexual marriages, there is an inequitable division of labor, with women often being underbenefited.

  • “second shift” to describe the phenomenon where working women come home after their day jobs to take on additional unpaid labor, such as housework and childcare.

Domain-specific equity (Sprecher)

Finding areas that each person is good at