The Social Exchange Theory Essay Example

proposition: this indicates that the more regular a person is paid for a particular action they usually tend to be more responsive to the same reward being that they become used to the reward.
Other theorists like Peter Blau, focused on the aspect of social exchange in the economic field and the utilitarian perspectives. He talks of the principles that make a person base their next action on the reward that they are likely to get from the action (Roloff, Michael, 1981).
Richard Emerson works merge both Homans and Blau's works. Humans believed that social exchange theory was based on the principle of reinforcement. Emerson then combines these two theorists' ideologies and states that exchange is not a theory but a framework from which other theories meet and is similar to structural functionalism. A sociology approach uses an economic analysis of non-economic situations.
The social exchange theory works with a key property, which is interdependence. It defines the basic form of interaction between two or more parties that willingly decide on the exchange and the quantity of it as well. Therefore, the other idea of self-interest comes in; this is defined by Homans, as the combination of economic and psychological needs, hence individualism (Homans, George, 1961). Within the act of financial gain, other ideas such as competition and greed may also play. It is however not a bad thing in social exchange theory as according to Michael Roloff, it is a force that guides interpersonal relations and leads to the improvement of the lives of both parties. The outcome is frequently influenced by the merging of efforts, also mutual and complementary agreements reached (Roloff, Michael, 1981).
The theory has

some weaknesses, which include: for instance, social exchange theory does not consider cultural issues that may regulate any social exchange. Within anthropology, however, it was regarded as a strength rather than weakness. The theory only works with the concept of greatest reward, however, in some cultures, relationships may not be for the purpose of reward (Zafirovski, M. 2005).
The second critique is that is linked to economic gain; the economists tend to reduce it just to market like exchange forgetting that it is a social exchange. The theory tends to indicate that not only does the economic exchange lead to pursuing of material wealth but also within the social exchange. The assumption may be wrong.
Social exchange theory also brings out people as individualistic and reward seeking. The theory tends to assume that all these are in a linear structure, but some relationships may skip steps or even work backward from the reward (Zafirovski, M. 2005).
Social exchange theory has the following strengths: the theory help users predict relationship outcomes and the reward likely at the end. It helps people understand the cost and reward that exist within relationships. The prediction is also essential for knowing how to keep and sustain relationships.
The theory is given some intuitive credibility, the idea applies to life, it is, therefore, a humanistic theory
It indicates that human beings recognize each other’s situations and needs. Therefore, in relationships, we expect things such as reward or to give something material or love, to maintain the relationship. When a something is done to you, the only natural thing is to do something good in return.
Finally, it is a clear way of understanding human relationships (Zafirovski, M.

2005).
Application of the social exchange theory for instance in the case of the work settings, social exchange theory is applicable when explaining engagement of employees in an organization. The pillar of the theory, which states that, obligations are generated through a series of interaction between parties, who are in the state of exchange. Individuals receive the economic and socio-emotional reward from an organization as the employees; they feel obligated to respond to repay the team. The employer-employee relationship, therefore, plays forth the theory (Homans, George, 1961).
The future research for the social exchange theory involves a focus on the leadership climate; a new theoretical model of the theory is likely to be developed with open questions on the theory such as the theory itself, methods, statistics, and a deeper level of analysis. Studies are now looking towards the motivation of leadership and the reward relationship that exists. The goal is to analyze the effectiveness of the organization or body, the act f raising the citizenship climate behavior, which is also applicable to the social exchange theory. New developments such as modeled structural equations and data analysis platforms are in place to give an extensive impact that social exchange theory has in the world relationships.
In conclusion, the social exchange theory examine all the walks of life, in that it has explained the relationships that exist and the motivation that it takes to start or even to sustain one. The concept describes the human life and instinct for the greatest reward or the less consequence (Homans, George, 1961).

References

• Zafirovski, M. (2005). Social exchange theory under scrutiny: a positive critique of its economic-behaviorist formulations. Electronic Journal of Sociology, Retrieved
  

fromhttp://www.sociology.org/content/2005/tier2/SETheory.pdf