Interpersonal Relationships
Lecture 4: relationship satisfaction and stability
Divorce across the globe
35% of marriages ends in divorce, so 65% does not.
What about the 65%? Are they happy? How do they protect their romantic relationship from
‘relationship threat’? What are the 5 most important benefits/costs of a romantic relationship?
Equity theory
Relationships are based on social exchange of rewards and costs. Relationship satisfaction
when partners experience equity if relative outcomes of partners are equal.
Limitations: although equity is associated with satisfaction, it is only very weakly linked to
relationship stability. Do partners actually keep track of input and output.
Do people in romantic relationships care about exchange?
Clark & Mills:
In exchange relationships partners keep track of each other’s inputs (‘record keeping’),
reciprocity, equity.
In communal relationships partners keep track of each other’s ‘needs’, not so much inputs.
Interdependence theory
Extension of equity theory:
1. Satisfaction is not just determined by reward/costs ratio
2. Satisfaction is not the only factor that determines relationship stability
Comparison Level (CL) = what are my outcomes in comparison to what I expect in a
relationship? If outcomes higher than CL satisfaction.
Comparison level of alternatives (CLalt) = what are the outcomes that I can get elsewhere?
If outcomes in current relationship are higher than CLalt dependency.
How to explain a stable relationship despite low satisfaction and low dependency? The role of
investments in stability (Investment model).
Lecture 4: relationship satisfaction and stability
Divorce across the globe
35% of marriages ends in divorce, so 65% does not.
What about the 65%? Are they happy? How do they protect their romantic relationship from
‘relationship threat’? What are the 5 most important benefits/costs of a romantic relationship?
Equity theory
Relationships are based on social exchange of rewards and costs. Relationship satisfaction
when partners experience equity if relative outcomes of partners are equal.
Limitations: although equity is associated with satisfaction, it is only very weakly linked to
relationship stability. Do partners actually keep track of input and output.
Do people in romantic relationships care about exchange?
Clark & Mills:
In exchange relationships partners keep track of each other’s inputs (‘record keeping’),
reciprocity, equity.
In communal relationships partners keep track of each other’s ‘needs’, not so much inputs.
Interdependence theory
Extension of equity theory:
1. Satisfaction is not just determined by reward/costs ratio
2. Satisfaction is not the only factor that determines relationship stability
Comparison Level (CL) = what are my outcomes in comparison to what I expect in a
relationship? If outcomes higher than CL satisfaction.
Comparison level of alternatives (CLalt) = what are the outcomes that I can get elsewhere?
If outcomes in current relationship are higher than CLalt dependency.
How to explain a stable relationship despite low satisfaction and low dependency? The role of
investments in stability (Investment model).
