9.2.5
Rusbult’s Investment Model
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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.
- Tangibles include possessions bought together.
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.
1Social Influence
1.1Social Influence
2Memory
2.1Memory
3Attachment
3.1Attachment
4Clinical Psychology & Mental Health
4.1Clinical Psychology & Mental Health
5Approaches in Psychology
5.1Approaches in Psychology
5.2Comparison of Approaches (A2 only)
6Biopsychology
6.1Biopsychology
7Research Methods
7.1Research Methods
7.2Scientific Processes
7.3Data Handling & Analysis
8Issues & Debates in Psychology (A2 only)
8.1Issues & Debates in Psychology (A2 only)
9Option 1: Relationships (A2 only)
9.1Relationships: Sexual Relationships (A2 only)
9.2Relationships: Romantic Relationships (A2 only)
9.3Relationships: Online (A2 only)
10Option 1: Gender (A2 only)
10.1Gender (A2 only)
11Option 1: Cognition & Development (A2 only)
11.1Cognition & Development (A2 only)
12Option 2: Schizophrenia (A2 only)
12.1Schizophrenia: Diagnosis (A2 only)
12.2Schizophrenia: Treatment (A2 only)
13Option 2: Eating Behaviour (A2 only)
13.1Eating Behaviour (A2 only)
14Option 2: Stress (A2 only)
14.1Stress (A2 only)
15Option 3: Aggression (A2 only)
15.1Aggression: Physiological (A2 only)
15.2Aggression: Social Psychological (A2 only)
16Option 3: Forensic Psychology (A2 only)
16.1Forensic Psychology (A2 only)
17Option 3: Addiction (A2 only)
17.1Addiction (A2 only)
Jump to other topics
1Social Influence
1.1Social Influence
2Memory
2.1Memory
3Attachment
3.1Attachment
4Clinical Psychology & Mental Health
4.1Clinical Psychology & Mental Health
5Approaches in Psychology
5.1Approaches in Psychology
5.2Comparison of Approaches (A2 only)
6Biopsychology
6.1Biopsychology
7Research Methods
7.1Research Methods
7.2Scientific Processes
7.3Data Handling & Analysis
8Issues & Debates in Psychology (A2 only)
8.1Issues & Debates in Psychology (A2 only)
9Option 1: Relationships (A2 only)
9.1Relationships: Sexual Relationships (A2 only)
9.2Relationships: Romantic Relationships (A2 only)
9.3Relationships: Online (A2 only)
10Option 1: Gender (A2 only)
10.1Gender (A2 only)
11Option 1: Cognition & Development (A2 only)
11.1Cognition & Development (A2 only)
12Option 2: Schizophrenia (A2 only)
12.1Schizophrenia: Diagnosis (A2 only)
12.2Schizophrenia: Treatment (A2 only)
13Option 2: Eating Behaviour (A2 only)
13.1Eating Behaviour (A2 only)
14Option 2: Stress (A2 only)
14.1Stress (A2 only)
15Option 3: Aggression (A2 only)
15.1Aggression: Physiological (A2 only)
15.2Aggression: Social Psychological (A2 only)
16Option 3: Forensic Psychology (A2 only)
16.1Forensic Psychology (A2 only)
17Option 3: Addiction (A2 only)
17.1Addiction (A2 only)
Practice questions on Rusbult’s Investment Model
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