change

1. +
Why Relationships
Change and End

2. +
Learning Outcome
 HR.1.D Analyse why relationships may change or end.

3. +
Triangular Theory of Love
Sternberg (1988)

4. +
Buunk (1998)
Communication and Happiness
 Express their feelings openly
and disclose their thoughts.
 Show affection and
understanding for each others’
feelings (empathy and
perspective taking)
 Show conflict-avoidance
 Demonstrate soothing
 Take part in destructive
communication.
Happy Couples Unhappy Couples

5. +
Social Exchange Theory
Kelly & Thibaut (1959)
 We make cost-benefits that guide our behavior. (Economic
Thinking)
 A relationship will endure as long as it is profitable to both parties.
 Balance is needed for long-term success

6. +
Investment Model of Commitment
 Extends on Social Exchange Theory to apply to
close relationships.
 Adds dimensions of satisfaction and commitment.
 Satisfaction: positivity of feelings or attraction to partner or the
relationship.
 Commitment: The tendency to maintain a relationship or feel
psychologically attached to it.
 Comparison to other possible relationships is key

7. +
Key ideas of Investment Model
1. Satisfaction in a relationship depends on rewards,
costs, and the partner’s comparison to other possible
relationships.
2. Commitment: A relationship depends on
satisfaction, alternatives, & investment.
3. Commitment directly relates to whether a person
stays in a relationship.

8. Satisfaction
InvestmentAlternatives
Commitment

9. +
Two Examples of the Investment
Model
 A dissatisfied partner stays in an abusive
relationship because they feel as though they are
lacking other options or are invested.
 A satisfied partner leaves a relationship because
they feel as though they have other options or are
not attached.
 Key idea: Commitment is the main factor in
maintaining relationships.

10. +
Rusbult (1983)
 Aim: To investigate why relationships last and end.
 Method: Longitudinal study of 34 new college couples for 7
months.
 Broke participants into 3 categories: The Stayers, The
Abandoned, The Leavers.
 Findings: Stayers had high rewards, low costs, high
satisfaction, few alternatives, & high commitment over the
course of the study.
 Conclusions: Those ratings predict lasting relationships.

11. +
Investment Model of Commitment
Rusbult
 Patterns of Accommodation (responding to a partner’s
negative behavior) are key to maintaining relationships.
 Constructive Accommodations: Discussing problems openly
and honestly, forgiving each other, and letting problems solve
naturally are key to maintaining relationships.

12. +
Equity Theory
 The relationship must be perceived as
equal/balanced in order for relationships to last.
 Unhappiness comes from imbalanced
relationships.

13. +
Hatfield (1979)
 Aim: To investigate how perceptions of equity impact
relationship satisfaction.
 Method: Interviewed over 2000 couples
 Findings/Conclusions:
 Under-benefitted partners were more likely to cheat.
 Greatly-Over or Greatly-Under benefitted partners were more
likely to think their relationships would not last.
 Equitable partners were more likely to think that their
relationship would last.

14. +
Why Relationships End
Flora & Segrin (2003)
 Aim: To investigate possible factors that predict the break-up of
relationships.
 Method: A longitudinal series of interviews, self-reporting, and
questionnaires of 66 Young dating couples and 65 recently
married couples.

15. +
Flora and Segrin et al. (2003)
 ¼ of couples broke up
 General concern with the time
spent together and common
interests.
 Men: Negative and positive feelings
had little impact.
 Women: The amount of negative
feelings correlated with the rate of
breaking-up.
 No Divorces
 Concern with both emotions and
shared interest.
 Men: More concerned with shared
interest and shared time. Some
emphasis on negative emotions
shown by their partner.
 Women: Satisfaction largely
dependent on the amount of
negative feelings of their partner.
Dating Couples Married Couples
Conclusion: Gender impacts the perception of a healthy
relationship.

16. +
Additional Factors that
Impact the End of Relationships
 Women end relationships more than men (Gray and Silver
1990).
 Marriages between younger than average partners are
unstable (Duck 1988).
 Early parenthood and divorce are correlated (Pringle 1986).
 Marriages between partners from lower economic groups and
lower education levels tend to be unstable (Duck 1992).
 Having divorced parents increases divorce rates (Duck 1992).
 Marriage between partners who have had many sexual
partners before marriage are less likely to last (Duck 1992).

17. +
UP Analysis: Carl and Ellie
 Watch the following clip from UP and explain how
the ideas from this standard explain their
relationship.
 What makes their relationship work? How do they use
communication? What accommodations do they make?
How/why does their relationship change? Why are they able
to make their relationship last?

18. +
Discussion/Response Questions
 How might these theories relate to the happiness in arranged
and choice marriages?
 What role does communication have on the changes within a
relationship?
 What strengths and limitations exist within these theories?