PSYCH 13 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Color Wheel Theory Of Love, Psych, Attachment In Adults
Document Summary
Intimate relationships: between lovers, dating partners, friends and married couples. Economic theories: concerned with rewards and costs of relationships. Social exchange theory: motivated to maximise profit and minimise loss in relationships. (1) rewards and costs, (2) comparison levels (expectations and alternatives) and (3) investments. Relationships that provide more rewards and fewer costs will be more satisfying and endure longer. The development of an intimate relationship is associated with the overall level of rewards. Rewards: love, companionship, emotional support, sexual gratification. Investments are something put into the relationship that cannot be recovered (eg; time or other opportunities), and investment increases commitment. Equity theory: balance of benefits & contributions for both partners. Equity= (your benefits/your contributions) divided by (partners benefits/partners contribution). Balance is what counts: inequity equals imbalance (over benefited or under benefited). Exchange vs communal relationships: exchange relationships are tit-for-tat, concern with zero balance. Most often relationships with strangers, casual acquaintances or business partnerships.
