9.2.4

Evaluation of Equity Theory

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Support for Equity Theory

There is significant support for equity theory from research studies, including studies of real life relationships. Research confirms that equity theory is a more valid explanation than social exchange theory (SET).

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Utne et al. (1984)

  • Utne et al. (1984) conducted a survey of 118 recently married couples (husbands and wives aged between 16 and 45 who had been together for more than two years before marrying).
  • They measured equity with two self-report scales.
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Utne et al. (1984) findings

  • Utne et al. (1984) discovered that couples who considered their relationship equitable were more satisfied than those who saw themselves as over benefiting or under benefiting
  • This confirms the main prediction of equity theory.

Criticisms of Equity Theory: Cultural and Individual Differences

Some researchers argue that equity theory does not account for individual differences and cannot be applied cross-culturally.

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Challenges

  • Equity theory assumes that equity is fundamental to all romantic relationships. But studies have found that this assumption is not universally applicable.
  • Aumer-Ryan et al (2007), found views regarding equity and satisfaction are not identical between cultures.
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Cultural differences

  • This challenges equity theory because the theory claims that equity is a universal need in relationships.
  • This means that the theory is limited because it cannot account for this cultural difference.
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Aumer-Ryan et al. (2007)

  • Aumer-Ryan et al. (2007) compared couples in a collectivist culture with those in an individualistic culture.
  • Couples from the individualistic culture considered their relationships to be most satisfying when the relationship was equitable.
  • Partners in the collectivist culture were most satisfied when they were over benefiting.
  • This was true of both men and women.
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Huseman et al. (1987)

  • Not all partners in romantic relationships are concerned about achieving equity.
  • Huseman et al. (1987) suggested that some people are less sensitive to equity than others.
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Findings

  • They described some partners as benevolents (those who are prepared to contribute more to the relationship than they get out of it).
  • Others they described as entitleds (those who believe they deserve to be over benefited and accept it without feeling distressed or guilty).
  • This shows that equity is not necessarily a universal feature of all romantic relationships.

Criticisms of Equity Theory: Types of Relationships

Equity theory also seems to overlook the fact that many different types of relationship exist.

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Clark and Mills (2011)

  • Clark and Mills (2011) tried to untangle the sometimes confusing body of evidence that claims equity is an important feature of relationships.
  • They concluded that there are many types of relationship that we should distinguish between, such as business and work relationships and acquaintance relationships.
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Other studies

  • Equity theory also claims that satisfying romantic relationships should become more equitable overtime.
    • Berg and McQuinn (1986) found that equity did not increase in their longitudinal study of dating couples.
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Longevity

  • Equity theory also did not distinguish between those relationships which ended and those which continued.
  • Other variables were found to be significantly more important, such as self-disclosure.

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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