1. Social Theories Social Exchange Theory

2. What is Social Exchange Theory?
Psychological and Sociological perspective that explains social change and stability as a process of negotiated exchanges between parties.
Views that all human relationships are formed by the use of a cost-benefit analysis and the comparison of alternatives.

3. Social Exchange Theory (cont’d)
Social interaction is likened to transactions in the economic marketplace
Exchange is a theory which attempts to explain interpersonal behaviors in terms of the exchange of rewards and costs 

4. Interrelated Theories
Economics
Humans are rational and will seek to maximize their gain
Psychology
Humans will generate behaviours that will produce the greatest rewards
Cultural Anthropology
Exchange process derive from individuals trying to satisfy basic needs.

5. Social Exchange Theory Today
focus on what people put into relationships and what they get out of it
everything we do has costs (to be minimized) and rewards (to be maximized) associated

6. Social Exchange Theory Today (cont’d)
REWARDS = anything that a person gains from a relation
6 main rewards: love, money, status, info, goods, services
COSTS = negative consequences of a relation
time, energy

7. How can this be related to the FAMILY
Marital Relationships
Sibling Relationships
Parent/Child Relationship

8. I should watch my little brother
tonight because its Katie’s birthday
this weekend and I’m going to want
to stay out late. I need to start earning
my brownie points with mom now.
Mom says you have to babysit
me tonight !!!!! And hang out with
me, and play games with me, and
love me and blah blah blah….

9. What are the COSTS for the sister to babysit her brother
What are the COSTS for the sister to babysit her brother? What are the REWARDS? Is babysitting her brother worth it for her?