Keep up with the reading! Psychology 137C: Intimate Relationships Week 2, Lecture 2: Theories of Intimate Relationships– Part II Reminders: It is not too early to start thinking about the writing assignment, due May 19th. Keep up with the reading! Lecture slides can be downloaded before class at: www.psych.ucla.edu Access problems? Contact the TA.

Social Exchange Theory Partners evaluate the rewards and costs associated with being in a relationship, along with barriers to leaving the relationship and their available alternatives. Hal Kelley

Assumptions of Social Exchange Theory People evaluate and make decisions about their relationships the same way that they weigh economic decisions. OUTCOME = REWARDS – COSTS What are rewards? What are costs?

More Assumptions Comparison Level (CL) SATISFACTION = OUTCOME – CL Comparison Level for Alternatives (Clalt) DEPENDENCY = OUTCOME - CLalt

How Does the Theory Guide Research? Predicting break-ups and divorce Between 20-40% of those who file for divorce change their minds. Why? Who stays with abusive partners? What do dependent people do? Devaluing alternatives

Evaluating Social Exchange Theory What CAN it explain? Why do some distressed relationships stay together? What does it leave out? How do stable, rewarding relationships become unstably costly ones?

Social Learning Theory Gayla Margolin Our behavior is molded and shaped within relationships. Rewarding and punishing interactions may affect subsequent behaviors and judgments of satisfaction with a relationship. Robert Weiss Neil Jacobson

Assumptions of Social Learning Theory Behavior is the “final, common pathway.” Appraisals of each interaction accumulate. Escape conditioning From behavior to cognition

How Does the Theory Guide Research? Observing dyadic interactions The talk table studies Observational coding Negative reciprocity Implications for intervention and policy

Evaluating Social Learning Theory What CAN it explain? How do satisfied relationships change? What does it leave out? Where does negative behavior come from? Can people who are distressed ever get happy?

Social Ecological Models The stresses, supports, and constraints in the environment of a couple may affect the way partners think, feel, and act in their relationships. Reuben Hill Urie Bronfenbrenner

Assumptions of Social Ecological Models Microsystem, mesosystem, macrosystem The ABCX Model (Hill, 1949) The Double-ABCX Model (Hamilton and McCubbin, 1982)

How Does the Theory Guide Research? Measuring reactions to stress Military families Transition to parenthood Taking culture and SES seriously.

Evaluating Crisis Theory What CAN it explain? When do vulnerable relationships break up? What does it leave out? Where do resources come from?

Toward Integration Do we have a comprehensive theory of intimate relationships? Not quite. We do have a number of powerful tools. Is integration possible? Stay tuned!