Theories of Romantic Relationships

This lesson examines three major psychological theories that attempt to explain why romantic relationships are maintained and why some relationships succeed while others fail. Each theory takes an economic or exchange-based approach, treating relationships as involving costs, rewards, and investments.

Key Definition: Comparison Level (CL) is the standard against which a person judges the quality of their relationship, based on past experiences and expectations. If the current relationship exceeds the CL, it is judged as satisfactory.

---

Social Exchange Theory (Thibaut & Kelley, 1959)

Social exchange theory (SET) proposes that people evaluate relationships in terms of costs and rewards, much like a financial transaction. The theory rests on the assumption that humans are fundamentally motivated to maximise rewards and minimise costs.

Key Concepts

Rewards may include companionship, sex, emotional support, financial security, and social status. Costs may include time, effort, emotional stress, financial expenditure, and loss of freedom.

The outcome of a relationship is calculated as:

Profit = Rewards − Costs

If the profit is positive, the person is likely to judge the relationship as satisfactory.

Comparison Level (CL)