Maintenance of Relationships Essay
Two explanations on the maintenance of relationships
One of the main theories for the maintenance of romantic relationships was created by Thibaut and Kelly in 1959, called the Social exchange theory. It views all relationship behaviour as a series of exchanges based on rewards, costs and profit. Each person attempts gain the most out of the relationship and lose the least. The exchange element occurs when individuals receive rewards and thus feel obliged to reciprocate, such as a person being hugged feels that they should hug back. Rewards are seen as pleasurable and beneficial, which may include company, security, intimacy or sex. While the costs can be anything that occurs that is viewed as a loss to the individual due to being in the relationship e.g. effort, financial investment or time.
The theory also states that a comparison level is used by each individual person to determine the value of exchanges. This comparison level is usually based on their previous experiences of relationships, their observations of other people’s relationships, their expectations of the relationship and a comparison of possible alternative relationships that may be available.
The comparison level for alternatives (CLA) is how people weigh the profitability of their current relationship with that of potential future relationships, and then judge whether their current relationship is satisfactory.
Another theory for the maintenance of relationships is the Equity theory creates by Walster in 1978. This is similar to the Social exchange theory in that it sees behaviour within relationships as a series of exchanges with people trying to maximise their rewards and minimise costs however the goal is not for profit but to achieve perceived fairness or equality. This theory states that the relationship satisfaction is highest when each partner feels that they give the same amount into the relationship and get the same amount of rewards from it. However a partner can feel
One of the main theories for the maintenance of romantic relationships was created by Thibaut and Kelly in 1959, called the Social exchange theory. It views all relationship behaviour as a series of exchanges based on rewards, costs and profit. Each person attempts gain the most out of the relationship and lose the least. The exchange element occurs when individuals receive rewards and thus feel obliged to reciprocate, such as a person being hugged feels that they should hug back. Rewards are seen as pleasurable and beneficial, which may include company, security, intimacy or sex. While the costs can be anything that occurs that is viewed as a loss to the individual due to being in the relationship e.g. effort, financial investment or time.
The theory also states that a comparison level is used by each individual person to determine the value of exchanges. This comparison level is usually based on their previous experiences of relationships, their observations of other people’s relationships, their expectations of the relationship and a comparison of possible alternative relationships that may be available.
The comparison level for alternatives (CLA) is how people weigh the profitability of their current relationship with that of potential future relationships, and then judge whether their current relationship is satisfactory.
Another theory for the maintenance of relationships is the Equity theory creates by Walster in 1978. This is similar to the Social exchange theory in that it sees behaviour within relationships as a series of exchanges with people trying to maximise their rewards and minimise costs however the goal is not for profit but to achieve perceived fairness or equality. This theory states that the relationship satisfaction is highest when each partner feels that they give the same amount into the relationship and get the same amount of rewards from it. However a partner can feel