Interdependence

1. Interdependence

2. Social Exchange
 Premise: We seek interactions with others
that provide maximum reward at minimum
cost and we only stay with those who provide
sufficient profit.
 People want the best possible outcome
 Interdependence Theory (Thibaut & Kelley)

3. Social Exchange: Rewards &
Costs
 Rewards- anything within an interaction that
is desirable and welcome and that brings
enjoyment or fulfillment to the recipient
 Costs- punishing, undesirable experiences
 Outcome- describes the net profit or loss a
person encounters, all things considered
 Outcome=Rewards-Costs

4. What Do We Expect From Our
Relationships?
 What Do We Expect from Our Relationships
 Comparison level (CL)- the value of the outcomes
that we believe we deserve in our dealings with
others
 Based on past experience
 People with past rewarding relationships are likely to
have high CLs or expect more in current relatioships
 Our CLs are the standards by which our satisfaction in a
relationship is measure

5. What Do We Expect From Our
Relationships?
 What Do We Expect from Our Relationships II.
 Happiness will depend on the extent to which
outcomes surpass your expectations
Outcomes > CL = happy
Outcomes < CL= unhappy
Or
Outcomes-CL=Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction

6. How Well Could We Do
Elsewhere?
 Satisfaction is not the only factor that
determines how long a relationship lasts
 Comparison Level for Alternatives (Clalt)
 The outcome we could receive by leaving our current
relationship and moving to the best alternative
partnership or situation we have available
 Clalt = lowest level of outcome we will tolerate
from our present partner
 Clalt determines our relationship dependence

7. How Well Could We Do
Elsewhere?
 Clalt can be considered a global outcome thus if a
person can be happy and yet end the relationship if
the Clalt is better.
 Clalt is what a person thinks it is (perception of self-
worth or other situation are their reality)
 Your situation may not provide alternatives
 Spouses who divorce are usually unhappy for a long
time prior to the divorce. They finally do so when
new and better alternatives come along.

8. Four Types of Relationships

10. CL and Clalt as Time Goes By
 If perfect relationship then CL goes up and
you now expect more yet your outcomes
remain the same
 Take it for granted
 American Culture Provides a High CL
 Women’s rights has increased Clalt
 Now more unhappy and unstable relationships

11. Economies of Relationships
 On any given day 44% are likely to be
annoyed by a lover or friend
 Intimacy and Interdependence often give
people permission to be impolite instead of
courteous and considerate
 Bad is Stronger Than Good
 Rewards-to-Cost ration of at least 5-to-1
(Gotman)
 Love Languages

12. Average Marriage Trajectory

13. Rewards and Costs as Time
Goes By