Deck 9: Social Exchange Theory

Question 1

Relationships in which costs exceed rewards are perceived as having

A) positive worth
B) negative worth
C) supportive outcomes
D) instability

Answer 1

negative worth

Question 2

Emotional support and companionship may be perceived as being _________ in a relationship.

A) costs
B) rewards
C) worthwhile
D) desired

Answer 2

rewards

Question 3

Sabatelli and Shehan use the metaphor of a(n) _________ to describe the social exchange that takes place in relationships.

A) grandfather clock
B) bank
C) marketplace
D) onion

Answer 3

marketplace

Question 4

Which of the following accurately states the two assumptions related to the nature of relationships?

A) Relational life is a process. Relationships are rational.
B) Relationships are interdependent. Relational life is a process.
C) Relationships are rational. Relationships emphasize rewards and minimize costs.
D) Relationships emphasize rewards and minimize costs. Relationships are interdependent.

Question 5

Which of the following assumptions emphasizes the importance of considering the role of diversity in relationships?

A) Humans seek rewards and avoid punishments.
B) Humans are rational beings.
C) The standards that humans use to evaluate costs and rewards vary over time and from person to person.
D) Relationships are interdependent.

Question 6

The "Prisoner's Dilemma" is a simulation game that was created to illustrate

A) the value of conflict in relational exchanges
B) the impact of time and change on relational life
C) the importance of refraining from revealing private information about oneself to others
D) that social exchange is a function of interdependence

Question 7

All of the following statements about the relationship between CL, CLalt, and outcomes are true EXCEPT

A) if the outcome is greater than the CL, which is greater than the CLalt, the relationship will be viewed as being satisfying and stable
B) if the outcome is greater than the CLalt, which is greater than the CL, the relationship will be viewed as being unsatisfying and stable
C) if the CL is greater than the CLalt, which is greater than the outcome, the relationship will be viewed as being unsatisfying and unstable
D) if the CL is greater than the outcome, which is greater than the CLalt, the relationship will be viewed as being unsatisfying and stable

Question 8

When you think about your own satisfaction with your current relationship in terms of how much happier you think you could be if you were dating your previous relational partner, you are considering your

A) comparison level for alternatives
B) comparison level
C) potential outcomes
D) personal assessments

Question 9

All of the following statements about comparison levels (CL) are true EXCEPT

A) Comparison levels vary due to their subjective nature.
B) CL often measures relationships in terms of one's own past experiences.
C) Relationships that are portrayed in the media can serve as a basis of comparison for our own relationships.
D) There is a typical standard on which to base comparison levels.

Question 10

The CL predicts the _____ of a relationship, while CLalt predicts the _____.

A) outcome; selection
B) satisfaction; stability
C) selection; worth
D) stability; satisfaction

Question 11

Which approach to knowing characterizes the research conducted using Social Exchange Theory (SET)?

A) positivistic/empirical
B) interpretive
C) critical
D) phenomenological

Question 12

Alicia is upset because her family is against her decision to accept a job in Chicago. They do not like the fact that she will be moving to a big city all by herself. Alicia decides to discuss her relationship with her parents and to point out that she feels that they are treating her like a child instead of an adult. Alicia's decision to adjust the power and costs involved in her family relationship by discussing the relationship represents the _________ matrix.

A) given
B) chosen
C) effective
D) dispositional

Question 13

The _________ matrix is used to illustrate the way in which two people believe that rewards should be exchanged between them in the relationship.

A) given
B) chosen
C) effective
D) dispositional

Question 14

All of the following are criticisms of Social Exchange Theory presented in the text EXCEPT

A) The theory is not testable because the concepts of costs and rewards are not clearly defined.
B) The theory views humans as rational calculators who are able to come up with numerical representations of their relational lives.
C) The theory fails to focus on the importance of group solidarity and the importance it plays on individual needs fulfillment.
D) The theory has not stood the test of time.

Question 15

Your inability to enjoy ballroom dancing with your relational partner because you don't know how to dance, something s/he considers a cost in the relationship, is part of your relationship's _____ matrix.

A) given
B) chosen
C) effective
D) dispositional

Question 16

An exchange where two people reciprocate costs and rewards is called a(n)

A) generalized exchange
B) direct exchange
C) productive exchange
D) economic exchange

Question 17

Your ability to influence your relational partner's actions, such as when you convince her or him to spend time alone with you rather than go out with friends, is called

A) fate control
B) stability control
C) relational control
D) behavior control

Question 18

If Lawrence and Ethan do a project together for class, they will be engaging in a(n)

A) generalized exchange
B) direct exchange
C) productive exchange
D) economic exchange

Question 19

Which of these communication traditions is associated with Social Exchange Theory?

A) phenomenological
B) semiotic
C) socio-psychological
D) rhetorical

Question 20

The dispositional matrix represents the variety of alternative behaviors and outcomes that guide an individual's choice for behavior in the social exchange.

Question 21

If the CLalt is greater than the CL, which is greater than the outcome, the relationship will be viewed as being unsatisfying and unstable.

Question 22

SET would say that a relationship in which the partners have no power over each other will be the most satisfying and least costly.

Question 23

Behavioral sequences are series of actions designed to achieve one's goals.

Question 24

If no rewarding options are available, an individual will choose the option that is most costly to him or her.

Question 25

Social Exchange theorists believe that all relationships require time and effort on the part of the participants.

Question 26

Saying that humans are rational decision-makers is essentially the same thing as saying they engage in rationalization.

Question 27

A prevailing belief in Social Exchange Theory is that people are rational decision-makers.

Question 28

Describe the concepts of costs and rewards in a relationship, and give examples of each. Also provide examples of things that could be perceived as both costs and rewards in a relationship.

Question 29

Discuss the two types of comparison levels that are used when deciding whether to continue or terminate a relationship (CL and CLalt). Provide examples of each based on a personal decision that was made with regard to the continuance of a relationship.

Question 30

Describe the role of power in calculating relational rewards and costs. What are the two types of power that are addressed in Social Exchange Theory? Provide an example of each.

Question 31

Describe the different patterns of communication that individuals can employ in coping with power differentials in relationships.

Question 32

How does the role of self function in Social Exchange Theory?

Question 33

What conclusions can be drawn with respect to the role of self-disclosure in Social Exchange Theory? How is it discussed in the theory?

Question 34

Apply social exchange principles to a relationship you have with a close co-worker or family member.

Question 35

Do you agree with the assumption that humans are fundamentally rational beings when it comes to evaluating relationships? Why or why not? What, if any, change would you propose to refine this theory to account for irrational relational behaviors?

Question 36

How would you go about researching a particular relational phenomenon using Social Exchange Theory? Formulate a hypothesis or research question and describe the study you would conduct.

Question 37

Using the standard criteria for theory evaluation, critique Social Exchange Theory.