Theories of Romantic Relationships
SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY (SET)
AO1
Economic Economic theories assume that people run relationships like bank accounts
theory and look out to get the best deal, and move on if not. There are 3 examples
of these for romantic relationships that explain relationship maintenance:
SET (Social Exchange Theory)
Rusbult’s Investment model, which is seen as an extension of SET
Equity Theory
Thibault & Thibault and Kelley propose Social exchange theory (SET) which argues that
Kelly: SET relationships partners exchange rewards and costs.
- Rewards might include companionship, praise, emotional support,
sex
- Costs include stress, arguments, compromises, time commitments.
- Satisfaction is judged in terms of a profit (costs minus rewards), and
partners are motivated to minimise costs and maximise rewards.
- Those who offer rewards are attractive and those who are perceived
to involve great cost are less attractive.
- The model predicts that profitable relationships to both parties will
succeed and unprofitable imbalanced ones will fail.
Comparison Thibault and Kelley argue that we compare existing relationships against
Level (CL) past relationships and possible future ones to help judge whether they are
profitable.
Comparison
- The Comparison Level (CL), involves comparing previous romantic
Level for
Alternatives experiences and cultural norms of what is appropriate to expect from
(CLalt) relationships. People consider relationships worth pursuing if the
Comparison Level is equal to, or better than, what they experienced
in their previous relationships.
- The Comparison Level for alternatives (CLalt), concerns a person’s
perception of whether other potential relationships (or staying on
their own) would be more rewarding than being in their current
relationship. According to SET, people will stick to their current
relationships as long as they find them more profitable than the
alternatives.
4-Stage Thibault & Kelly suggest that relationships proceed through a series of 4
model stages:
- Sampling stage, where people explore potential rewards and costs of
relationships, by experimenting and observing others.
- Bargaining stage, partners exchange rewards and costs, figure out the
most profitable exchanges and negotiate the dynamics of the
relationship.
SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY (SET)
AO1
Economic Economic theories assume that people run relationships like bank accounts
theory and look out to get the best deal, and move on if not. There are 3 examples
of these for romantic relationships that explain relationship maintenance:
SET (Social Exchange Theory)
Rusbult’s Investment model, which is seen as an extension of SET
Equity Theory
Thibault & Thibault and Kelley propose Social exchange theory (SET) which argues that
Kelly: SET relationships partners exchange rewards and costs.
- Rewards might include companionship, praise, emotional support,
sex
- Costs include stress, arguments, compromises, time commitments.
- Satisfaction is judged in terms of a profit (costs minus rewards), and
partners are motivated to minimise costs and maximise rewards.
- Those who offer rewards are attractive and those who are perceived
to involve great cost are less attractive.
- The model predicts that profitable relationships to both parties will
succeed and unprofitable imbalanced ones will fail.
Comparison Thibault and Kelley argue that we compare existing relationships against
Level (CL) past relationships and possible future ones to help judge whether they are
profitable.
Comparison
- The Comparison Level (CL), involves comparing previous romantic
Level for
Alternatives experiences and cultural norms of what is appropriate to expect from
(CLalt) relationships. People consider relationships worth pursuing if the
Comparison Level is equal to, or better than, what they experienced
in their previous relationships.
- The Comparison Level for alternatives (CLalt), concerns a person’s
perception of whether other potential relationships (or staying on
their own) would be more rewarding than being in their current
relationship. According to SET, people will stick to their current
relationships as long as they find them more profitable than the
alternatives.
4-Stage Thibault & Kelly suggest that relationships proceed through a series of 4
model stages:
- Sampling stage, where people explore potential rewards and costs of
relationships, by experimenting and observing others.
- Bargaining stage, partners exchange rewards and costs, figure out the
most profitable exchanges and negotiate the dynamics of the
relationship.
