9.2.2

Evaluation of Social Exchange Theory

Test yourself

Criticisms of Social Exchange Theory (SET)

Many researchers do not accept the economic metaphor underlying SET.

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Clark and Mills (2011)

  • Clark and Mills (2011) argue that the theory fails to distinguish between different types of relationship.
    • An exchange relationship (e.g. between work colleagues) does not involve social exchange.
    • Communal relationships (such as between romantic partners) are marked by the giving and receiving of rewards without keeping score (who is ahead and who is behind).
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Poor generalisability

  • SET claims that relationship partners return rewards for rewards, costs for costs, and that these reciprocal activities are monitored.
  • But our awareness of this exchange might lead us to question our partners’ commitment, especially in the early days of a new relationship.
  • So SET cannot account for the majority of relationships.
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Problems with cause and effect

  • There are also problems with the direction of cause-and-effect.
  • SET argues that dissatisfaction sets in when we suspect that the costs outweigh rewards or that alternatives are more attractive.
  • Argyle (1987) claims that we don’t measure costs and rewards in a relationship, nor do we constantly consider the attractiveness of alternatives until we are already dissatisfied with the relationship.
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Miller (1997)

  • Other research also supports this view that dissatisfaction comes first.
  • Miller (1997) found that people who rated themselves as being in a highly committed relationship spent less time looking at images of attractive people and were found to ignore even the most attractive alternatives.
  • Less time spent looking was also a good predictor of a relationship continuing two months later.
  • SET cannot account for the direction of causation in this outcome.

Criticisms of Social Exchange Theory (SET)

There are further criticisms of social exchange theory.

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Neglect of equity

  • Some have claimed that SET ignores fairness or equity - a crucial factor that may be an overwhelming consideration for romantic partners.
  • A lot of research supports the importance of the role of equity in relationships and the view that this is more important than just the balance of rewards and costs.
  • Neglect of equity means that SET is a limited explanation that cannot account for a significant amount of research on relationships.
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Measuring SET

  • There are also problems related to measuring SET concepts.
  • SET concepts are difficult to quantify. Researchers have defined rewards and costs superficially (such as money) to measure them.
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Measuring SET cont.

  • Psychological rewards and costs are even more difficult to define, especially when they vary so much from one person to another.
  • The concept of comparison levels is especially problematic because it is unclear what the values of comparison level (CL) and comparison level for alternative (CLalt) must be before dissatisfaction threatens a relationship.
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Artificial studies

  • The majority of studies supporting SET use artificial tasks in artificial conditions.
  • One common procedure involves two strangers working together on a game-playing scenario in which rewards and costs are distributed.
  • More realistic studies using participants in real relationships have been less supportive of SET.

Jump to other topics

1Social Influence

2Memory

3Attachment

4Psychopathology

5Approaches in Psychology

6Biopsychology

7Research Methods

8Issues & Debates in Psychology (A2 only)

9Option 1: Relationships (A2 only)

10Option 1: Gender (A2 only)

11Option 1: Cognition & Development (A2 only)

12Option 2: Schizophrenia (A2 only)

13Option 2: Eating Behaviour (A2 only)

14Option 2: Stress (A2 only)

15Option 3: Aggression (A2 only)

16Option 3: Forensic Psychology (A2 only)

17Option 3: Addiction (A2 only)

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