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Social Exchange Theory

Social Exchange Theory

As formulated by John Thibaut and Harold Kelley, Social Exchange Theory explains human relationships as economic-like exchanges that maximize rewards and minimize costs. This theory suggests that individuals engage in relationships to gain benefits and reduce burdens, similar to economic transactions. It has been widely applied to various types of relationships, including romantic, professional, and social interactions.Rewards and Costs in RelationshipsRelationship rewards include emotional...

Social Exchange Theory

Social Exchange Theory

We have discussed why we form relationships, what attracts us to others, and different types of love. But what determines whether we are satisfied with and stay in a relationship? One theory that provides an explanation is social exchange theory. According to social exchange theory, we act as naïve economists in keeping a tally of the ratio of costs and benefits of forming and maintaining a relationship with others (Rusbult & Van Lange, 2003).

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Culture shapes how people approach attraction, choose partners, and build long-term relationships. While some preferences in mate selection appear consistent across cultures, such as men valuing physical attractiveness and women emphasizing financial resources, cultural contexts influence how these preferences are expressed and prioritized. Marriage extends beyond romantic ideals in many societies and is deeply embedded in social, economic, and religious frameworks.The Role of Culture in Mate...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats

Published on: February 22, 2018

Stable negative social exchanges and health.

Jason T Newsom¹, Tyrae L Mahan, Karen S Rook

¹Institute on Aging, School of Community Health, Portland State University, OR 97207-0751, USA. newsomj@pdx.edu

Health Psychology : Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association

|January 31, 2008

Summary

Persistent negative social exchanges significantly harm older adults' health, leading to poorer self-rated health, increased functional limitations, and more health conditions over time.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 7, 2026

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats

Published on: February 22, 2018

Area of Science:

Gerontology
Social Psychology
Public Health

Background:

Negative social exchanges are a significant source of daily stress.
Chronic stress is linked to adverse health outcomes.
The long-term health effects of consistently high negative social exchanges remain understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the association between stable negative social exchanges and health outcomes in older adults.
To determine if persistent interpersonal stressors predict future health decline.
To understand the role of ongoing negative social interactions in aging and health.

Main Methods:

Longitudinal study design with data collected over a 2-year period.
National sample of 666 older adults.
Trait-state-error modeling to analyze stable negative social exchanges and health indicators.

Main Results:

Higher levels of stable negative social exchanges predicted poorer self-rated health.
Consistent negative social interactions were associated with greater functional limitations.
Increased number of health conditions were observed with higher levels of stable negative social exchanges, even after controlling for baseline health and demographics.

Conclusions:

Stable negative social exchanges represent a critical, ongoing stressor impacting older adult health.
Addressing continual interpersonal problems is vital for promoting healthy aging.
The findings underscore the importance of social relationships' quality in long-term health trajectories.