Rusbult’s Investment Model

Q: Rusbult’s Investment Model

The investment model of commitment __(Rusbult et al. (2011))__ states that commitment depends on three factors: satisfaction, investment and comparison with alternatives.

Q: Commitment in Romantic Relationships

__Rusbult et al. (2011)__ identified commitment as the most important factor in maintaining romantic relationships.

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Rusbult’s Investment Model

The investment model of commitment (Rusbult et al. (2011)) states that commitment depends on three factors: satisfaction, investment and comparison with alternatives.

Investment model and SET

Because the model is a development of social exchange theory (SET), two of its factors (satisfaction and comparison with alternatives) are very similar to elements of social exchange theory.
Rusbult et al.'s (2011) study identified three factors that influence commitment in a romantic relationship:
- Satisfaction.
- Comparison with alternatives.
- Investment.

Satisfaction

Satisfaction is based on the the comparison level in SET.
A satisfying relationship is judged by comparing rewards and costs and is seen as profitable if it has many rewards and few costs.
Each partner is generally satisfied with the relationship if they are getting more out of the relationship than they expect based on previous experiences and social norms.

Comparison with alternatives

Comparison with alternatives results in romantic partners asking themselves a number of questions, such as:
- ‘Could my needs be better met outside my current relationship?
- ‘Are the alternatives more rewarding and less costly?’
Alternatives include relationships with other people, as well as the possibility of having no romantic relationship at all.

Comparison with alternatives cont.

According to Rusbult et al (2011), comparison with alternatives is not enough to explain commitment.
They proposed a third factor influencing commitment: investment.
If comparison with alternatives was enough to cause commitment, then many relationships would end as soon as either the costs outweighed the rewards (a loss) or more attractive alternatives arose.

Investment

Investment refers to the extent and importance of the resources associated with the relationship.
An investment can be understood as anything we would lose if the relationship were to end.

Rusbult’s Investment Model: Types of Investment

Investment refers to the extent and importance of the resources associated with the relationship. Rusbult (2011) argues that there are two major types of investment:

Intrinsic investments

Intrinsic investments represent the many resources we put directly into the relationship.
- They can be tangible things such as money and possessions.
- They can also be resources less easy to quantify (intangibles) such as energy, emotion, and self-disclosure.

Extrinsic investments

Extrinsic investments are our resources that previously did not feature in a relationship but are now closely associated with it.
- Tangibles include possessions bought together.
  - For example, a house, mutual friends gained since the relationship began and children.
- Intangibles are things like shared memories.

Commitment in Romantic Relationships

Rusbult et al. (2011) identified commitment as the most important factor in maintaining romantic relationships.

Predicting commitment

Rusbult et al. (2011) argue that the main psychological factor that causes people to stay in romantic relationships is not satisfaction but commitment.
They predict that partners will be committed to a relationship when all the following are true...

Rusbult et al. (2011)

The partners in a relationship experience high levels of satisfaction (because they gain many rewards with few costs).
The alternatives are less attractive.
The sizes of their investment are increasing.

Satisfaction and commitment

The distinction between satisfaction and commitment can help to explain why dissatisfied partners may choose to stay in a relationship: they are committed to their partner.
Commitment develops because the couple have made an investment that they do not want to see go to waste. They will work hard to maintain and repair a damaged relationship.
Commitment expresses itself in everyday maintenance behaviours.

Enduring relationships

According to the equity model, enduring partners do not engage in tit-for-tat retaliation. Instead, they:
- Act to promote the relationship (accommodation).
- Put their partners interests first (willingness to sacrifice).
- Forgive them of any serious transgressions (forgiveness).

Cognitive element to commitment

There is also a cognitive element to relationship maintenance and repair.
Committed partners think about each other and potential alternatives in specific and unpredictable ways, such as:
- Being unrealistically positive about their partner (positive illusions).
- Also being negative about tempting alternatives and other people’s relationships (ridiculing alternatives), much more so than less committed partners.