To Know from Baumeister & Vohs (2004) Role of supply/demand in sexual context Values associat. w/ female vs. male sexualities Different contexts of asymmetry (“complementary”) sexual economic roles: Prostitution Courtship Infidelity/divorce Partner power statuses Abusive relationships, rape, etc.

Primary Comm Theorists in SET John Thibaut & Harold Kelley “Every individual voluntarily enters and stays in any relationship only as long as it is adequately satisfactory” in terms of rewards and costs

Assumptions about human nature: We & Humans  Stndrds to eval. costs/rewards vary & by

Assumptions about nature of R’s: R’s are Relational life 

Social Exchange Theory (SET) Marketplace metaphor & social exchange People review & weigh R’s via costs/rewards Rewards - Costs = determines if reward or cost All R’s require some time & effort Worth of R predicts its outcome (future)

Relationship Evaluation Types of comparisons for evaluating R’s: Comparison level (CL) Based on Comparison level of alternatives (CLalt) Measure of

Exchange Structures

Relationship Evaluation Exchange Patterns Behavioral sequences People adjust behaviors in R Actions designed to achieve goal Matrices matrix Choices & outcomes determ. by external (environment) & internal (people’s skills) factors Possible choices & outcomes to Given Matrix determ. by new skills learned/avail. Beliefs people hold about rewards that ought to be exchanged

Exchange Structures (within the matrices)

Based on matrices… If know & … can predict used to impact social exchange. In other words… If we know ppl’s beliefs/percept’s & their relational constraints/situat., we can predict what they’ll do

Critical Strengths of SET

Criticisms of SET Failure to focus on importance of grp solidarity