Which of the following phenomena would NOT be explained by balance theory?
A) We want to agree with the people we like and disagree with those we dislike.
B) We want to see things that are alike in one way as alike in other ways, too.
C) We want to return favors that we receive from others.
D) We want to associate good things with good people.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Balance theory focuses on the consistency between individuals' relationships, attitudes, and sentiments. It explains how people strive for balance in their likes, dislikes, and the associations they make between themselves, others, and objects or concepts. Returning favors, as mentioned in option C, is more accurately explained by the norm of reciprocity, which is the expectation that people will respond to each other in kind—returning benefits for benefits, rather than balance theory's focus on attitudinal consistency and triadic relationships.

Which of the Following Phenomena Would NOT Be Explained by Balance