10.2.1

Social Exchange Theory

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Social Exchange Theory

Social exchange theory (SET) uses economic assumptions of exchange to study relationships.

Definition of SET

Definition of SET

  • Thibault and Kelley (1959) first proposed social exchange theory (SET).
  • The theory states that partners try to minimise losses and maximise gains (the minimax principle).
  • People judge their satisfaction with a relationship in terms of the profit it yields, minus the costs.
Rewards and costs

Rewards and costs

  • Rewards and costs are subjective. So there are a wide range of possible outcomes.
  • What one person considers a significant reward might not be thought of as particularly valuable to another person.
    • E.g. you might consider praise to be a significant reward while your partner might see it as superfluous.
  • And what someone considers to be rewarding or costly can change over the course of a relationship.
__Blau (1964)__

Blau (1964)

  • Blau (1964) stated that relationships can be expensive/costly in terms of time, stress, energy, compromise, etc.
  • Relationships also incur an opportunity cost.
  • This is the investment of time, energy and resources in a relationship that someone then cannot invest elsewhere.

Comparison Level and Comparison Level for Alternatives

Thibault and Kelley (1959) identified two ways we measure the profits of a romantic relationship.

Measuring profit

Measuring profit

  • According to Thibault and Kelley (1959), there are two ways in which we measure the profits in a romantic relationship:
    • Comparison level (CL).
    • Comparison level for alternatives (CLalt).
Comparison level (CL)

Comparison level (CL)

  • Comparison level (CL) is the amount of reward you believe you deserve to get. CL develops from the experiences of previous relationships.
  • These, in turn, influence our expectations of our current relationship.
  • CL is also influenced by the social norms that determine what people consider to be a reasonable level of reward.
    • This is influenced by cultural expectations (especially as represented within the media: books, films, etc.)
Determining CL

Determining CL

  • As we experience more relationships, our CL changes to reflect this extra information.
  • A relationship is considered worth pursuing if CL is high.
  • This means CL is linked to self-esteem.
  • Someone with low self-esteem will have low CL and will be satisfied with only a small profit (or even a loss).
  • Someone with high self-esteem will see themselves as being worth more.
Comparison level for alternatives (CLalt)

Comparison level for alternatives (CLalt)

  • CLalt offers a wider context for our current relationship.
  • It refers to a person assessing the costs and rewards of their current relationship, and comparing this to an alternative relationship or being on their own.
  • Social exchange theory (SET) predicts that we will stay in our current relationship only so long as we believe it is more rewarding than the alternatives.
__Duck (1994)__ on CLalt

Duck (1994) on CLalt

  • According to Duck (1994), the CLalt we adopt will depend on the state of our current relationship.
    • Because other potential relationships exists, we might decide to abandon our current relationship if the cost of our current relationship outweighs the benefits.
  • But if our current relationship is satisfying, in terms of benefits over costs, it is unlikely that we would have noticed any available alternatives.

The Four Stages of Social Exchange Theory (SET)

Another feature of social exchange theory concerns the four stages through which relationships, and the social exchanges that underpin them, develop.

Sampling stage

Sampling stage

  • Sampling stage: we explore the rewards and costs of social exchange by experimenting with them in our relationships (not just romantic ones), or by observing others doing so.
Bargaining stage

Bargaining stage

  • Bargaining stage: this marks the beginning of a relationship, when romantic partners start exchanging various rewards and costs, negotiating and identifying what is most profitable.
Commitment stage

Commitment stage

  • Commitment stage: as the relationship moves on, the sources of costs and rewards become more predictable and the relationship becomes more stable as rewards increase and costs lessen.
Institutional stage

Institutional stage

  • Institutional stage: where partners are now settled down because the norms of the relationship, in terms of rewards and costs, are firmly established.
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