Exchange & Resource Theories Sabatelli, R. M., & Shehan, C. L. (1993). Exchange and resource theories. In P. G. Boss, W. J. Doherty, R. LaRossa, W. R. Schumm, & S. K. Steinmetz (Eds.), Sourcebook of family theories and methods: A contextual approach (pp ). New York: Plenum Press.

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Metatheoretical Issue: Collectivism Versus Individualism  Collectivism (a/k/a structuralism): the social system influences the behavior of individuals in interaction. This emphasizes the influence of social norms on individual behavior.  Individualism: social structures develop based on behaviors of individuals to meet their own needs.

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Core Assumptions  Humans seek rewards and avoid punishment.  Based on their expectations, humans seek to maximize rewards and minimize costs.  Humans calculate rewards, costs, and consider alternatives before they act.  The standards that are used to evaluate rewards and costs vary between individuals and may change over time.  The importance attached to the behavior of others in relationships vary between individuals and may change over time.  If a reward exceeds it’s anticipated value, it’s future value will diminish.

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Assumptions About the Nature of Relationships:  Social exchanges are interdependent: the ability to obtain profits is based on the ability to reciprocate by providing rewards.  Experience in relationship influences subsequent exchanges.  Social exchanges are regulated by norms of reciprocity.  Social exchanges are regulated by norms of fairness.  Levels of attraction and dependence influence  relationship dynamics,  stability of relationships over time.

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Limitations  Not all social behavior is based on rational decision-making, a critique that has also been directed toward behaviorism.  Tautology: it is difficult to make an operational distinction between  what people value,  what people perceive as rewarding,  and how they behave.  Radical-feminist critique:  Underlying assumptions value separation of people rather than connection. This is problematic for explaining the behavior which values connectedness.  Exchange theory fails to explain or at least undervalues altruistic behavior.

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Major Contemporary Concepts  Overview of Concepts:  Concepts are defined and interrelationships are outlined and modeled graphically.  Concepts are classified into four general categories: è Individual characteristics (e.g., resources, expectations, perception of alternatives). è Norms and rules that regulate relationships (e.g., norms of reciprocity and equity). è Characteristics of the exchange which emerge as a result of interactional experiences that influence the decision to remain or depart. è Relationship dynamics (e.g., decision making, power, control).

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Rewards, Costs, and Resources  Rewards: sources of positive reinforcement including pleasures, satisfactions, gratifications. They occur on a continuum from concrete to symbolic. Blau (1964) suggested six types of social rewards:  personal attraction,  social acceptance,  social approval,  instrumental services,  respect/prestige,  compliance/power.

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Rewards, Costs, and Resources (cont.)  Costs: punishments or lost rewards. Blau suggested three types:  Investment: time and effort devoted to developing skills which will be used to reward others.  Direct costs: resource given to another in exchange for something else.  Opportunity: loss of rewards which would have been available elsewhere.  Resources: anything that can be transmitted through interpersonal behavior, including commodities, material, or symbolic matter.

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Satisfaction with Exchange Relationships  See Figure 16-1 for graphic representation of factors mediating relationship satisfaction.  Comparison level (CL): a personal subjective standard used to evaluate a relationship which is based on previous experience and expectations.

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Relationship Stability  See Figure 16-2 for graphic representation of factors which influence relationship stability.  Comparison level for alternatives (Clalt):  Construct developed to explain a person’s decision to remain or terminate a relationship.  Defined as the lowest level outcome a person will accept from a relationship in light of available alternatives.  Determined by the comparison of the current relationship to the perceived best available alternative.  It is a subjective assessment.

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Relationship Stability (cont.)  Dependence: degree of perceived reliance on the relationship.  Barriers: discourage terminating a relationship by fostering dependence even if attraction is negative. There are two:  Internal: feelings of obligation or indebtedness which increase the psychological cost of the relationship.  External: group membership, community pressure, legal pressure, and economic concerns which increase the social and/or economic cost of terminating the relationship.

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Typology of Marital Quality and Stability  See Figure.  Four possible combinations of marital quality and stability.  Assumption: location in a quadrant is dependent on the balance between rewards and costs so relationships may change over time.  Family violence: research on women as victims has revealed that those who are more likely to leave are  more likely to be employed,  view themselves as having personal resources,  have shorter duration marriages,  less invested in their relationship.

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Norms Regulating Exchange Relationships  See Figure 16-3 which integrate norms with trust and commitment.  Normative orientation (e.g., gender roles): internalized and modified by experience.  Distributive justice: perceived fairness which is based on ratio of costs/benefits to expectations. Degree of allowable deviation is influenced by social norms.  Reciprocity: level of responsiveness between exchanges. Motivation is influenced by feelings of indebtedness.

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Trust and Commitment  See Figure 16-3 which integrates trust and commitment with norms.  Trust: belief that partner will not exploit. Norms of reciprocity and fairness influence feelings of trust.  Commitment: willingness to participate in a relationship over a long period of time. It builds stability by increasing dependence.

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Exchange Dynamics  See Figure 16-4  Power: ability to control another; this is distinguished from authority, the ability to legitimately extract compliance.  Assumption: dependence and power are inversely related.  Assumption: resources and power are positively and linearly related.  Exchange relationships are characterized by attempts to balance dependence and power.