Theory of romantic relationships: SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY-
Thibault+Kelly
It assumes partners act out of self-interest in exchanging rewards and costs. When rewards
exceed costs and potential alternatives are less attractive= a satisfying and committed R is
maintained.
Rewards, Costs and Profits
SET is an economic theory based on the minimax principle: partners strive to maximise
rewards and minimise costs in a R
Rewards - Costs = outcome (profit)
Rewards: sex, companionship, emotional support
Costs: time, energy, opportunity cost (can’t invest in smt else)
Profit is subjective. Rewards are not the same for everyone and can change over time.
Comparison Level
(measures profit)
based on:
● the amount of rewards you believe you deserve
● past relationships and socio/cultural norms
high social esteem= higher expectation of rewards and not as happy with a small profit
if the CL is equal to or better than expectations and past Rs= satisfied
Comparison Level for Alternatives
‘could i get more profit with less cost somewhere else?’
= we will stay in R if we believe its more profitable than alternatives (single/different R)
Duck (1994)- being in a satisfying R means usually you don’t even see the alternatives
Stages of Relationship Development
Sampling- we explore the rewards and costs of the social exchanges of different Rs/
observing Rs
Bargaining- at the beginning of R, partners negotiate and identify rewards and costs
(exchange starts)
Commitment- couple settle into R, sources of rewards and costs become more predictable
and R is more stable (high rewards)
Institutionalisation- partners are settled down, norms of the R exchanges are firmly
established
EVALUATION
+ p- research support for SET in homosexual couples
e- Kurdek asked gay, lesbian and heterosexual couples to do a questionnaire
measuring R commitment and SET variables
Thibault+Kelly
It assumes partners act out of self-interest in exchanging rewards and costs. When rewards
exceed costs and potential alternatives are less attractive= a satisfying and committed R is
maintained.
Rewards, Costs and Profits
SET is an economic theory based on the minimax principle: partners strive to maximise
rewards and minimise costs in a R
Rewards - Costs = outcome (profit)
Rewards: sex, companionship, emotional support
Costs: time, energy, opportunity cost (can’t invest in smt else)
Profit is subjective. Rewards are not the same for everyone and can change over time.
Comparison Level
(measures profit)
based on:
● the amount of rewards you believe you deserve
● past relationships and socio/cultural norms
high social esteem= higher expectation of rewards and not as happy with a small profit
if the CL is equal to or better than expectations and past Rs= satisfied
Comparison Level for Alternatives
‘could i get more profit with less cost somewhere else?’
= we will stay in R if we believe its more profitable than alternatives (single/different R)
Duck (1994)- being in a satisfying R means usually you don’t even see the alternatives
Stages of Relationship Development
Sampling- we explore the rewards and costs of the social exchanges of different Rs/
observing Rs
Bargaining- at the beginning of R, partners negotiate and identify rewards and costs
(exchange starts)
Commitment- couple settle into R, sources of rewards and costs become more predictable
and R is more stable (high rewards)
Institutionalisation- partners are settled down, norms of the R exchanges are firmly
established
EVALUATION
+ p- research support for SET in homosexual couples
e- Kurdek asked gay, lesbian and heterosexual couples to do a questionnaire
measuring R commitment and SET variables
