 Partners weigh up the inputs and outputs of a relationship to see if it is equitable.  Make a list with your study buddy of inputs and outputs of a relationship.

Learning Objectives 1) To understand the equity theory of relationship maintenance. Success Criteria 1) Complete the first assessment for relationships (an essay on formation). 2) Read page 11 of your booklet about the AO1 of equity theory. 3) Make notes about the evaluation points of the equity theory of relationship maintenance on page 11.  Challenge  Plan the first half of the essay of maintenance onto page 12 of your booklet.

 An economic theory that puts forward the idea that people have an expectation that their relationship should be fair.  Couples subconsciously keep an eye out on what both of them are putting into and getting out of the relationship.  If the balance is equal then there is satisfaction for both partners.  If the balance is unequal the relationship is described as being inequitable.  The ‘winner’ i.e. the person getting more out of the relationship than they are putting into it will feel guilty and the ‘loser’ i.e. the person putting more into the relationship than what they are getting out of it will feel dissatisfied.

 Imbalance can be tolerated if both people feel that the situation is fair.  How a couple views fairness within a relationship is subjective and depends on our previous relationships and cultural expectations of romantic relationships.

Meet Jack and Joyce. They’ve been married for 38 years. Create a short case study of their lives together...jobs, children, etc. What are the inputs (costs) for both Jack and Joyce? What are the outputs (benefits) for Jack and Joyce? Is their relationship equitable (fair)? Should they remain together?

 Stafford and Canary (2006) found that under- benefited newlyweds expressed the lowest level of satisfaction, then the over-benefited; those who perceived their relationships as equitable had the highest level of satisfaction supporting the equity theory.

 Buunk and Van Yperen (1990) carried out a longitudinal study of 259 couples recruited through an advert in a newspaper.  86% were married,  the remainder were cohabiting.  Equity was measured using Hatfield’s Global Measurement of Satisfaction.  It was found that 65% of men and women found their relationship to be equitable, 25% of men felt over- benefitted, and about the same number of women felt under-benefitted.  One year later they were asked how satisfied they were in their relationship. It was found that those in relationships perceived to be equitable were the happiest whereas those who perceived themselves as under-benefiting were the unhappiest.

 DeMaris (2007) used 1500 couples in the US National Survey of Families and Households to find a link between equity and marriage disruption. It was found that if women felt under-benefitted there was a greater risk of divorce.

 Clark and Mills (1979) disagreed with the equity theory and the fact that it is based on economics.  They distinguished between different relationships:  Exchange relationships (colleagues)  Communal relationships (romantic partners/friends)  In exchange relationships we keep a track of rewards and costs.  Communal relationships are governed more by the desire to respond to the needs of the partner. Partners tend to believe the balance will be restored in the end.

(a) Outline two or more theories of the formation and/or maintenance of relationships (e.g. reward/need satisfaction, social exchange theory). (12 Marks)