Social Exchange Theory Power Point

8/3/2019 Social Exchange Theory Power Point

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Social Exchange Theory



Outline

Definition

Theoretical Contributors

Specific Contributors

Founder-Premise Theory Strengths

Theory Weaknesses and Criticisms

Example of Social Exchange Theory



What is Social Exchange Theory?

Social Psychological and Sociologicalperspective that explains social change andstability as a process of negotiatedexchanges between parties.

Views that all human relationships areformed by the use of a subjective cost-

benefit analysis and the comparison ofalternatives.



Social Exchange Theory (cont’d)

social interaction is likened to transactionsin economic marketplace

Exchange is a theory which attempts toexplain interpersonal behaviors in terms of

the exchange of rewards and costs roots in Rational Choice theory - but that

doesn’t explain seeking benefit for others

so added BEHAVIORISM (operantconditioning) people repeat behaviorswhich have been rewarded in the past



Theoretical Contributors

Utilitarian Economists◦ Humans are rational and will seek to

maximize their gain

Behavioral Psychology

◦ Humans will elicit behaviors that willproduce greatest rewards

Cultural Anthropology

◦ Exchange process derive from individuals

trying to satisfy basic needs.



Specific Contributors

Marcel Mauss

◦ De-emphasized psychological needs andconcentrated on groups norms as

regulating the exchange relations Claude Levi-Strauss

◦ Collectivist exchange viewpoint

◦ Underlying patterns of society, and thatcertain costs may be required of theindividual



Originators

George Homans◦ Credited with the to consolidation of the

foundations of social exchange theory.

◦ Applied reinforcement contingencies from

operant learning theory to social behavior. Peter Blau

◦ recognized that social structures have emergentproperties not found in individual elements

◦

identified the norm of reciprocity (not always eyefor an eye)

◦ mutual reciprocation is the most basic form ofhuman interaction



Originators (Cont’d)

John Thibaut and Harold Kelley

◦ Role of perceived rewards and costs inencouraging and constraining behavior

◦

Start with psychological concepts buildupward to the dyad and build upward fromthere to small groups



Homans

Perspective◦ people will do things that are rewarding◦ the more similar a situation is to one from

the past, the more likely actions that were

rewarded will be performed now◦ rewards gain value when deprived (and

vice versa)◦ failure to get rewards expected = anger

getting rewards not expected = happiness◦ the frequency of a person doing an action

depends on the value of the outcome andprobability of getting it



Key Concepts

Rewards◦ Pleasing a Social Interaction

Resources◦ Material or Symbolic Exchanged in a Social Interaction

Costs◦ Investment of Time and Energy

Principle of Satiation◦ Loosing value due to increased availability

Principle of Deprivation◦ Increasing value due to decreased availability

Comparison Level (CL)◦ Societal norms, past experiences, observations

Comparison Level of Alternatives◦ Evolving Subjective Individual Standard

Dependence◦ Cost as Participating in Relationship

Interdependence◦ Mutually dependent on the Relationship



Key Concepts (cont’d)

Power◦ Greatest Resources

◦ Least Interested

Distributive Justice◦ Reward and Cost being Proprotional

Equity

◦ Both individuals derive similar levels of rewards Trust

Satisfaction◦ Satisfaction = (Rewards - Cost) - Comparison Level

Commitment◦ Social and Intimate Exchanges

Normative Orientations◦ Societal/ Cultural Views on appropriateness of behavior in

relationships



Social Exchange Theory Today

Richard Emerson focus on what people put into relationships

and what they get out of it

centers on dyads, but looks at some morecomplicated forms as well

everything we do has costs (to beminimized) and rewards (to be maximized)associated

◦ they range from subtle to explicit



Social Exchange Theory Today(cont’d)

REWARDS = anything that a person gainsfrom a relation

◦ 6 main rewards: love, money, status, info,

goods, services COSTS = negative consequences of a

relation

◦ time, energy



Power

POWER = control over rewards andpunishments

social power

◦

a person’s ability to influence thebehavior, thoughts or thoughts of another

◦ exists when one member is dependent onthe other for rewards

called power-dependence relations



Strengths of Theory

Most people understand generalassumptions

Very Parsimonious

The ability of exchange theory to explainmany family issues



Criticisms

Assumes humans act rationally whendeciding on an exchange

Some issues are difficult to explain effectivelyutilizing exchange theory such as altruism

Valuing self-interest Limited to dyadic relationships

Difficult to have a personal approach tosituations

The theory assumes that the ultimate goal ofa relationship is intimacy when this might notalways be the case.

Theory reduces human interaction to purely

rational process that arise from economic



Social Exchange Theory in the Movies

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2369479 -

Jerry Mcguire

The Wedding Singer

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2369479








By rajesh

vizag

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Social Exchange Theory Power Point