Potential profits and losses
determine whether RR will take place
(rational economic decisions)
Based on perceived profitability
Minimax
Rewards - objects, support, sex/companionship
Females - intimacy & self growth
Costs - emotion, habits, financial
investment
Males - sex and loss of money
When in a position to choose between a
number, we will consider which will
provide us largest difference between
rewards and costs.
Sampling - when forming a RR one will
weigh up costs and benefits of
forming that RR and compare it to
forming other potential RR in terms of
its potential profit and losses.
Suggests we employ comparison for
alternatives. We compare the potential
RR with past or current RR. A new is
likely to form if the current has a high
cost and low benefits.
A02
Negatives
Rusbult - cost benefit analysis
is inappropriate/irrelevant
during formation
Levine - cross cultural support. Love as a
basis for marriage in 11 countries.
individuals consider romantic issues.
Contradicting SET prediction. US
Respondents expressed reluctance to
marry in the absence of love. Emotional
desires or concepts of love are above
rational calculation.
Reductionism in conclusions
SET reducing complexity of formation to
simple profit/loss ignoring issues of love. A
mechanical view on RR, considering it
deterministic suggesting RR are
predominantly determined by calculations.
No research! Cannot suggest from
supporting research whether profit/loss
calculations cause the formation of RR just
that they are correlated. undermining the
predictive validity.
MIlls & Clark - some
individuals consider needs of
others above their own.
Moghaddam - disagrees on
application to non-western societies.
The group tends to be the primary
unit of concern and RR arent based
on narrow-individualisitic concerns,
SET suggests. Its more to do with
family members etc. Therefore SET
doesnt offer a universal explanation.
Positives
The principles of SET of
calculating by individuals or
significant others make it
applicable across all cultures.
arranging the formation of RR is common in western and
non-western societies. Most people form RR through
work/friends - they are fairly similar. Dating agencies
perform the same function a parents in arranged
marriages. Decision to form holds many influence
pressures e.g. religion, social position, wealth etc.leading to
a quasi-arranged RR. All part of the cost benefit analysis,
done by the couple or relatives/agencies on their behalf.
Allows us to operationalise
scientifically the complexity of
formation in an objective manner. it
also considers the role of cognitions
(judgements etc. )making it less
deterministic than it may first appear
(perceptions of self-worth)
Moghaddam - supports in western
cultures. Characterised by a high
degree of choice when forming a RR
than non-western. Supports
principle that individuals act in
economic terms when forming RR.
Western cultures place importance
on rights and freedoms, individual
happiness seen as fundamental