Thibaut and Kelley - we try and
get as much out of a relationship as
we can by MAXIMISING rewards
and MINIMISING costs
Thibaut and Kelley proposed a comparison level -
the comparison level for alternatives is when they
compare the rewards of starting a new relationship
with the costs of ending their current one.
Relationships only maintained if benefits outweigh
costs
RUSBULT (support) The costs and rewards
of relationships were compared to those of
alternative relationships to asses whether
relationship could be maintained.
RUSBULT AND
MARTZ - SET
can explain why
women stay in
abusive
relationships
when
investments=high
and
alternatives=low -
still a profit
situation
WALSTER ET AL - fairness is the
most important factor in whether a
relationship can be maintained.
We would feel uncomfortable not
only if we were giving more than
we got but also if we were getting
more than we give
messick and
cook - pople
become
distressed if
they perceive
unfairness
SUPPORT- Stafford and Canary - 200 married couples,
questionnaires, satisfaction was highest for those who
thought that they were in equitable relationships than
inequitable
Dainton (support) looked at 213
people in romantic relationships -
relationships which perceived
inequality reported lower levels of
relationship satsfaction
HOWEVER -
Ragsdale and
Brandau-brown -
equity isn't the most
important factor - it has
given an insufficient
account of the way
that married couples
behave towards one
another and T cant
explain that type of
relationship
IDA - RWA - Gottman and
Levenson who looked at
marriages. Successful marriage -
positive to negative interactions =
5:1 unsuccessful marriages = 1:1
or less
Can be used in therapy to
increase positive
interactions.
Jacobsen et al used
couples therapy in
order to break
negative patterns of
behaviour and
encourage
maintenance
IDA CULTURAL BIAS - moghaddam - only
applies to western cultures. cultural
differences - individualistic relationships are
transient and based on personal goasl -
Collectivist based on permanence and
needs of group
T - more likely to be maintained in
collectivist cultures because based
on permanence. and rising divorce
rates in western cultures suggest
that realtionships are less likely to
be maintained