Interdependence and Equity

The previous chapter (09) focused primarily on strategies used to keep relationships:◦ 1. Satisfying and in good “working condition”◦ 2. At a desired level (e.g., anti-social

maintenance strategies; rules for friends with benefits)

This chapter extends satisfaction into a broader model of maintenance focused on keeping the relationship in existence.

Relational partners become interdependent through communication and the exchange of resources.

People are motivated to be in relationships that provide them with high levels of rewards and low levels of costs.

Rewards are positive consequences of being in a relationship•Emotional: positive affect when with partner (love, warmth, gratitude, etc.)

•Social: activities, meeting other people•Instrumental: partner helps accomplish tasks

•Opportunity: relationship allows you to do something you couldn’t do otherwise

Costs are the negative consequences of being in a relationship•Emotional: negative affect with partner •Social: having to do undesired

activities/interact with partner’s friends•Instrumental: partner prevents tasks

from being accomplished or creates more work

•Opportunity: life experiences given up for the sake of the relationship

The outcome refers to the overall level of “profit” or “deficit” in relationships

rewards – costs = outcome Relationships are generally rewarding when

outcomes are positive, and generally costly when outcomes are negative

Comparison level (CL) : “standard” by which people evaluate their relationships ◦ how rewarding or costly you expect your

relationship to be based on prior experience, family model, friends,

media, etc. Outcome - CL= Satisfaction

• When outcome meets or exceeds the CL, people are satisfied.

• When the outcome falls under the CL, people are dissatisfied.

Comparison Level for Alternatives (CLAlt) ◦Perceptions that a better alternative to the

relationship exists (another partner, being single, etc.)

◦ Book calls it “quality of alternatives” for some reason—use CLAlt

◦Poor alternatives are related to more commitment

◦Good alternatives are related to less commitment

Alternatives

Poor GoodCurrent Relationship

Meets or Exceeds CL

Fails to Meet CL

Satisfied and Committed

Satisfied but Uncommitted

Dissatisfied but Committed

Dissatisfied and Uncommitted

Extension of interdependence theory Investments—Resources attached to

relationship that would decline in value or be lost if relationship were to end. ◦ Intrinsic investments: resources put directly into

the relationship (time, money, effort)• Extrinsic investments: resources developed over

time as a result of being in the relationship (possessions, social networks, children)

Active

Exit Voice

Destructive Constructive

Neglect Loyalty

Passive

Costs

CL

Satisfaction

Investment

CLAlt

Commitment Stability

Rewards

RewardsCostsCL

Satisfaction

Investments

CL-Alt

Commit.Benign Attribs. & Emots.

Accomm.

Behavior

Decision to remain Accommodate partner (Not retaliate) Derogation of alternatives Willingness to sacrifice Perc. rel. superiority

Stable

Is distribution of resources fair for both partners?

Based on the ratio of benefits vs. contributions

e.g.,◦ Ken benefits (20) : contributions (20)◦ Kirsten benefits (20) : contributions (10)

◦ Ken is underbenefitted◦ Kirsten is overbenefitted

General Equity (overall balance)

versus

Specific Equity (balance in a particular domain)

Equity ≠ Equality

Cultural Differences in standards of fairness◦ e.g., North America vs. Asia

More satisfaction & commitment

More relational maintenance behaviors◦ Positivity◦ Openness◦ Assurances

Negative emotions (anger, guilt, sadness) expressed in more constructive manner

Distress, anger, sadness Feeling “cheated”; unfair Decreased relational satisfaction Less prosocial communication (both partners)

◦ Less relational maintenance behaviors Less positivity Fewer assurances Fewer shared tasks

◦ Less comforting

Guilt (but not always)

Sometimes feel smothered by partner

May try to increase partner rewards

Feel less need to employ relational maintenance behaviors

Restoring actual equity

Adjusting psychological equity

Leaving the relationship

Which is more important?

◦Equity or◦Reward/Cost Ratio

Women routinely underbenefitted in heterosexual relationships

Men in dual-career couples only spend 4 minutes a day more on chores than those in traditional single-income marriages

Women do not perceive imbalance unfair until it exceeds 2/3 of the work

Unlike heterosexuals, gay and lesbian partners share tasks roughly equally