SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY John Thibaut Harold Kelley TRIBUTARIES

SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY John Thibaut & Harold Kelley

TRIBUTARIES o John von Neumann- games and economic/social behavior: parallel or opposite interest, perfect or imperfect information, rational decision or chance influence. ‘Strategy of anticipation’, or need to take the other actor/s into account. Win lose situations, or the zero-sum game.

Cont. o o John Nash- games are not always zero-sum; interactions include the possibility of mixed motive games. The minimax principle- people seek to maximize benefits and minimize costs.

Interdependence Theory of Thibaut and Kelley

Premises and Assumptions o o o Relational outcomes are linked with the actions of others. Members of the dyad can accurately predict outcomes and will choose the best. Not necessarily win/lose; interdependence implies that we negotiate our moves based on anticipation of the actions of others.

PRISONER’S DILEMMA o o o Potential for gain at the others expense. Also potential for win/win or lose/lose outcome. Both parties want optimum outcome.

RESULTS o o o Outcome- rewards minus costs represented by a single number. Comparison Level (CL)- satisfaction depends on expectation; the threshold above which an outcome seems attractive. Comparison level of alternatives (CLalt)- the worst outcome one will accept and stay in the relationship.

Some predictions…. o o o Outcome>CLalt>CL = satisfying, stable, nondependent. CL>CLalt>Outcome = not satisfying, break relationship, continue unhappy. CL>Outcome>CLalt = highly unsatisfying, can’t break away, dependent and unhappy…the Prisoner’s Dilemma.

Dependence and Control o o o Outcomes > CLalt = high dependence. Outcomes < CLalt = low dependence. T and K identify three types of control: reflexive, fate and behavior. These forms are juggled in interdependent relationships. The relationship is not evaluated in an evaluative sense.

Collective and Ind Outcomes o o Why do people often act in ways that appear contrary to their own interests, even with knowledge of outcome values? T and K see this as evidence of collective, social behavior.

o o o Anxiety- reframing the conflict to relieve tension; mentally altering the numbers by redefining the situation. Normative element- turning to collective principle for action when a situation is confusing. Temporal element- focus on future rewards.