Social Exchange Theory Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Social Exchange Theory?

Social Exchange Theory is a sociological concept that provides an explanation for how individuals interact with one another in social settings and how their relationships develop over time. It states that people calculate the benefits and costs associated with both engaging and remaining in a given relationship, weighing them against alternative options. The theory suggests that individuals are motivated to pursue relationships that offer the most rewarding outcomes for themselves.The core premise of Social Exchange Theory is that social interaction between individuals is based on the principle of mutual exchange, or give-and-take, similar to an economic transaction. Through this exchange process, parties involved in social interactions weigh the costs they incur while engaging in certain behaviors against the rewards they may receive from these behaviors. This calculation allows them to decide whether or not it would be worthwhile for them to continue with a given relationship. Similarly, when deciding which type of relationship to engage in at all, people tend to choose those that offer more rewards than costs or those where they stand to benefit more than lose out. In addition, Social Exchange Theory also takes into account factors such as power dynamics and emotional investment within a given relationship. For example, if an individual has more power over another person (i.e., due to age difference or because of a hierarchical structure), then this could potentially lead to unequal exchanges where one party reaps all of the benefits while the other does not receive any reward at all for their involvement thus making it an unappealing option for both parties involved in the long run. Additionally, if an individual has invested emotionally into another person’s wellbeing so much so that it becomes difficult for him/her to break away from them even if there are no tangible rewards coming his/her way (this could be especially true in cases related to codependency), then this again makes continuing with such a relationship less attractive as opposed its alternatives which may have more positive outcomes attached overall. Overall, Social Exchange Theory offers valuable insight into interpersonal relationships by highlighting how complex interdependent equations shape our behavior within these contexts allowing us not only understand why we engage with certain people but also why we might eventually decide cut ties altogether despite any previous attachment developed between two parties through mutual exchange processes over time .