- Minimax principle: People want to make the the most o the benefits while lessening the costs
- Personal relationships are function of comparing costs and benefits of managing and maintaining relationships -- social relationships bring both costs and rewards. In a simple term, it can be presented as:
- Relationship
- (perceived) Rewards
- (perceived) Costs
= Outcome (behavioral decisions = what to do)
- Marriage
- Perceived Rewards (companionship, affection, sharing a joint savings account, etc.)
- Perceived Costs (negotiating holiday visits between in-laws, loss of social independence, having to put grad school on hold because of family obligations, etc.)
= Outcome
Rewards and Costs may vary among individuals.
- Comparison level (CL)
Expected rewards or reward expectations
- Expectations comes from
- relationship model (such as parents, friends)
and one's experiences with relationships
and television and other media representations of relationships, etc.
People compare the current outcome value with CL value; and use it for future actions.
- Comparison level of alternatives
People also think of Comparison Level of Alternatives.
CLalt = What are your alternatives to staying in the relationship? -- i.e, expectation of outcomes to do otherwise.
| Predictions Mede by Social Exchane Theory |
| Outcomes > CL | = | Satisfied |
| Outcomes < CL | = | Dissatisfied |
| Outcomes > CLalt | = | Stay |
| Outcomes < CLalt | = | Terminate |