Social Exchange Theory
Recap the equity theory with your
partner...
• What is equity?
• What is the equation for equity theory?
• Stafford and Canary found...
• Buunk and Van Yperen found...
• Clark and Mills found...
Learning Objectives
•
To be aware of why relationships are
maintained according to social exchange
theory.
Success Criteria
1. Recap the equity theory.
2. Make notes on SET on page 9 and then apply
your knowledge of profits and losses to a
celebrity couple.
3. Evaluate the social exchange theory on page
10.
Challenge Create the final essay plan for
maintenance on page 12.
Profit and Loss
• All relationships are about exchanges, we need
to maximise rewards and minimise costs
▫ In which ways could a relationship be rewarding?
▫ In which ways could a relationship be costly?
• We need to make a profit in our relationships
(rewards are more frequent than costs)
Rewards – Costs = Outcome
• Commitment to relationship is based on the
outcome
Comparison Level
• A comparison level is a proposed standard which
compare all relationships against.
• The CL is based on previous experience; if we judge
current relationships to be above the CL we are
likely to proceed with the relationship, if the current
relationship falls below the CL we are likely to judge
the relationship negatively and the individual less
attractively.
• The comparison level for alternatives is when a
person weighs up the rewards of starting a new
relationship, compared to the costs of ending the
current relationship. If the profit is high then we are
likely to start a new relationship.
Social Exchange Theory
The 4 stages to a long-term relationship
Bargaining
• The couple explore
the profits and
losses in a variety of
relationships.
Sampling
• The couple ‘costs
out’ the relationship
and identifies the
sources of profit
and loss.
Institutionalisation
• The couple settles
into the
relationship; the
profits and losses
become predictable.
Commitment
• The interactions are
established and the
couple ‘settles
down’.
Activity
Page 9 of your booklet
• You are going to work out the profits and losses
of Steven and Alex Gerrard’s relationship.
• Each item will be given ± one point
▫ For example, similar sense of humour = +1
▫ Dissimilar taste in music = -1
Evaluation – AO2
• You should use your textbook to evaluate the
social exchange theory.
• You need to make notes on page 10 about the
support and criticisms of the social exchange
theory.
• Remember to include synoptic toolbox
information!
Some relationships should break up, especially those
characterized by violence and physical and/or psychological
abuse, and people who feel committed to such toxic
relationships might stay even when it’s not in their best
interests. Rusbult and Martz studied 100 victims of abuse
taking refuge in a shelter for battered women. They created
this model:
Severity of the abuse and
attributions (e.g., “it’s my
fault he was angry”).
Education and income,
employment status, and
availability of transportation
number of children,
marital status, and
length of the relationship
Intentions to separate
from their partners after
leaving the shelter
Rusbult and Martz (1995)
• They argue that SET can explain why women
stay in abusive relationships.
• Investments could be high (children and
financial security).
• Alternatives could be low (lack of housing and
money).
• This could be taken into consideration when the
women decide whether to stay or leave the
relationship.
Simpson et al.(1990)
• Asked participants to rate members of the
opposite sex in terms of attractiveness.
• Those involved in a relationship gave lower
ratings (i.e. comparison level for alternatives).
• However, social exchange theory does not
explain whey some people leave relationships
despite having no alternatives; the theory also
does not explain how great the difference has to
be in comparison level for someone to be
unsatisfied.
Duck and Sants (1983)
• The social exchange theory focuses too much on
the individual’s perspective and ignores the
social aspects of the relationships (e.g.
communication between the couple and how
they interpret shared events).
▫ i.e. This is a really selfish theory based on
individualistic concepts.
Moghaddam (1998)
• These economic theories are based on Western
cultures where relationships are often shortterm and individuals are mobile (can move
around).
• In non-Western cultures there is a greater focus
on long-term commitment, people are less
mobile, and they often value security rather than
personal profit.
Relationship Therapy 
• Gottman and Levenson (1992)
▫ Successful marriages have a ratio of 5:1 positive :
negative exchanges
▫ Unsuccessful marriages have a ratio of 1:1 or less
▫ Relationship therapy aims to increase the positive
exchanges and decrease the negative.
• What advice can you offer the couple on page 10
to rebalance the exchanges?