(6)社会交换理论（Social Exchange Theory）

Social Exchange Theory

 

Hal Kelley

Partners evaluate the rewards and costs associated with being in a relationship, along with barriers to leaving the relationship and their available alternatives.

 

Assumptions:

1. People evaluate and make decisions about their relationships the same way that they weigh economic decisions.

2. "OUTCOME"=REWARDS-COSTS

3. What are rewards?

    Material gains, gains in status, comfort...

4. What are costs?

    Pains, suffering, lost opportunities...

5. Outcome is not the same as satisfaction...

6. Comparison Level (CL)

    Expectations: what you feel you deserve

7. SATISFACTION=OUTCOME-CL

8. Satisfaction and Dissolution Differd

    Unhappy people stay; happy people leave.

9. Comparison Level for Alternatives

    Your other options

10. DEPENDENCY=OUTCOME-COMPARISON LEVEL FOR ALTERNATIVES

    These are intentions to stay or leave

 

What CAN it explain?

    Why do some distressed relationships stay together?

What does it leave out?

    How do stable, rewarding relationships become unstably costly ones?