Discuss Social Exchange Theory

AO1

• an economic model, partners are looking for high reward, low cost relationships i.e. ones with great profit

• we become dissatisfied if we observe a decrease in profit

• comparison level, who we enter a relationship with is influenced by our idea of what we deserve, our standards are impacted by previous relationships and the media’s portrayal

• comparison level with alternatives, we stay committed if we deem there to be no better option (including the option of being single)

• stages of relationship development

  • sampling - explore rewards and costs through our own (not necessarily romantic) relationships or through observing others’

  • bargaining - the start of relationship formation, partners begin exchange of rewards and costs

  • commitment - levels become more stable and predictable

  • institutionalisation - partners are wholly settled, norms of the relationship are firmed

AO3

• too business-like, heightened focus and over-analysis on profit in the relationship is not perceived as romantic, better suited to workplace relationships

• analysis of the relationship is more likely to be a result of the feeling of dissatisfaction than be the cause, people don’t tend to continually monitor profit levels, instead, they only weigh up pros and cons when a feeling of dissatisfaction arises

• it ignores the role of equity, yes both partners are searching for rewards, but if one partner receives more profit than the other, this results in dissatisfaction even though both members are technically both are benefitting

• face value, explains why some people leave relationships and immediately enter another, because they have compared alternatives, ‘back-burner boyfriend’ becomes more desirable