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CHAPTER 10: RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT/MAINTENAN

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Theories of Relationship Development:

• Uncertainty Reduction Theory•Attraction Theory•Rules Theory•Social Exchange Theory•Equity Theory

Uncertainty Reduction Theory

Describes relationship development as a process of reducing uncertainty about each other.

Attraction Theory

Says that you’ll develop relationships with those you interact to in close proximity.

Whom you see as physically and psychologically attractive.

Rules Theory

Describes friendships, love, and family relationships as interactions and are goverened by a series of rules that the participants agree upon

Social ExchangeTheory

Claims that you will develop relationships that are profitable. (That is they give you more rewards than costs)

Equity Theory

Claims that you will develop relationships that you see as equitable. Realtionships as to where rewards and costs are at the same ratio for each partner

Relationship License

A license to violate some expectation, custom, or rule. As the relationship goes longer, the license goes broader.

Relationship Maintenance / Reasons to Maintain a Relationship

•Emotional attatchment•Convience•Children•Fear•Inertia•Commitment

Emotional Attatchment

Often you maintain a relationship because you love each other, you want to preserve your relationship, and you don’t find alternative couplings as inviting or as potentially enjoyable.

Convienence

The difficulties involved in finding another person to live with, another business partner, or another social escort may make it more convenient to stay together than to break-up.

Children

A couple may stay together because they feel, rightly or wrongly, that’s in the best interest of the children.

Fear

People may fear venturing into the outside world, being alone, or facing others as single.

Inertia

Some relationships are maintained because of inertia, because change seems to be too much trouble.

Commitment

People may have a strong commitment to each other or the relationship.