Social-Exchange-Theory-(Homans--Blau--Thibaut--Kam

SocialExchangeTheoryProfessorTamaraS.ArringtonUniversityofKentuckyBluegrassCommunityandTechnicalCollegeGeneralAssumptionsofSocialExchangeTheoryIfpeopledefinesituationsasreal,theywillberealintheirconsequences.(W.I.Thomas)Socialfactsdonothaveanyinherentmeaningotherthanthatwhichhumansattributetothem.GeorgeCasperHomans(1910-1989)Reciprocity&EquityTheoryPeterBlau(1964)Walster,Walster,&Berscheid(1978)Humanbehaviorinvolvesasubjectiveandinterpretiveinteractionwithotherswhichattemptstoexchangesymbolicandnon-symbolicrewards.Individualswillcontinuetoparticipateinsocialsituationsaslongastheyperceivethattheyderiveequalbenefitsfromtheirparticipation.ElementsofSocialExchangeTheoryThibaut&Kelley(1959)&Homans(1961)Perceivedprofit=rewards–costs(pp=r-c)Weareallinrelationshipsforprofit.Weleaverelationshipswhenwenolongerperceivethemasprofitableorwhenthecostsofstayingoutweightherewards.Self-interest(WIIFM)Seekfairoutcomes,distributivejustice,andequityAlterownbehaviororseektoalterothers’behaviortoachievedesiredoutcomesExchangeofresourcesviatransactionsPerceivedProfitWhatindividualsperceivetheyareprofitingbybeingintherelationship(mayormaynotbe“reality”)DifferentanduniqueforeachpersonCanbeextremelyhighorclosetonoprofitAslongasbothpartiesviewtherelationshipasprofitable,therelationshipcanendure.RewardsWhatwegiveeachotherinrelationshipsWhatthingsdoyougetoutofyourrelationshipsthatyouhighlyvalue?HedoesthedisheseverynightafterdinnerHebuysmeexpensivejewelryShedoesthelaundry&ironsmyshirtsShewritesmelovenotesandslipstheminmybriefcaseHegivesmefootrubsafterastressfulday“ShetakescareofmychildrenwhileI’matwork.”“Hetakesmeongreatvacations.”“Heplayswithmeevenwhenhecouldbeplayingballwiththeguys.”4TypesofRewardsCashGoodsServicesSentimentsRewardProblematicsRewardDeprivation–occurswhenthereisatypeofrewardone“perceives”agreatneedforbutarenotgetting(andliterallycravethatreward).Anindividualmayevenleavetherelationshipand/orcheattogetwhattheyperceivetheyneed.RewardSatiation–occurswhenonereceives“toomuchofagoodthing”andaparticularrewardcomestohavelittlevalue,evenifitwasonceimportant.CostsInherent(actual)–time,money,energyPsychological–stressofgivingtherewardRewardsForegone–whatonegivesupinordertogiveanotherarewardPrincipleofRewardThemoreoftenaparticularactionofapersonisrewarded,themorelikelythepersonistoperformthataction.PrincipleofExperienceIfanindividual’sactionhasbeenrewardedinthepast,thentheindividualwillenactthesameactionincircumstancessimilartotheoneinwhichthepreviousactionwasrewarded.PrincipleofValueofOutcomeThemoreapersonvaluestheresultofanaction,themorelikelys/heistoperformthataction.PrincipleofDiminishingReturnsThemoreoftenintherecentpastapersonhasreceivedaparticularreward,thelessvaluableanyfurtherunitofthatbecomes.RewardSatiationPrincipleofDistributiveJusticeWhenanactiondoesnotproduceanexpectedreward,orcausesunexpectedpunishment,apersonwillfeelcheatedandislikelytoengageinpunitiveactions.Whenanactionproducesanunexpectedreward,orwhenitdoesnotproduceexpectedpunishment,apersoningratiatedorobligatedwilllikelyengageinapprovingbehavior.PrincipleofRationalitylnanydecisionsituation,apersonwillchoosethatactionforwhich,asperceivedbyhim/heratthetime,thevalueoftheresultmultipliedbytheprobabilityofgettingtheresult,isthegreatest.PrincipleofLeastInterestWillardWaller(1951)Thepersonwhohastheleastinterestincontinuingtherelationshipisabletocontroltherelationshipandexploittheotherpartner.Instudyingcollegedating:Menfinancial&emotionalinvestmentforphysicalaffectionWomensexualinvestmenttogainattentionandcommitmentRelationalImplicationsAllotherthingsbeingequal,thegreateranindividual’ssatisfactionwithhis/hercurrentrelationship,thelesslikelys/heistoleavetherelationship.Regardlessofthedegreeofrelationalsatisfaction,anindividualwillchoosetoremaininarelationshipiftheperceivedoutcomeofthecurrentrelationshipexceedstheperceivedoutcomesofthealternativerelationship.Hirokawa,R.,UniversityofIowa,36C:060AchievingBalanceIndividualswilloftenendurewhatseemslikeextremecostsiftheyperceivefuturepayoffs.Individualsseektocreateultimateexchangesinwhichbothpeoplefeeltheyareprofitinghighlybutexperiencinglittle,ifany,costs.Obligationcanoccurwhenexchangesareunevenandasenseofindebtednessiscreated.Whencouplesstruggle,itisseldomsimplyoverwhodoeswhat.Farmoreoften,itisoverthegivingandreceivingofgratitude(Hochschild,1989).ComparisonLevel(CL)One’sCListhegeneralstandardforevaluatinginteractionoutcomes.Anytimeweperceivetheoutcome(REWARD-COSTS)isaboveourCL,wearerelativelyhappyorsatisfiedwiththeoutcome.AnytimetheperceivedoutcomeisbelowourCL,wearerelativelyunhappyordissatisfiedwiththeoutcome.ComparisonLevelofAlternatives(Clalt)One’sClaltisthebestoutcomesavailableoutsideofourcurrentrelationshiporsituation.Asmoreattractiveoutsidepossibilitiesbecomeavailable,andexistingoutcomesslidebelowourCL,instabilityandchangeincrease.Sowhyleave?Andwhyfindsomeonenew?Inrelationshipscharacterizedbydissatisfaction,anindividualwillchoosetoleavearelationship,andenterintoanewr