Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 1, 2026

The Collective Trust Game: An Online Group Adaptation of the Trust Game Based on the HoneyComb Paradigm
Published on: October 20, 2022
Sunken costs and desired plans: examining different types of investments in close relationships
Wind Goodfriend1, Christopher R Agnew
1Buena Vista University, Department of Psychology, Storm Lake, IA 50588, USA. goodfriend@bvu.edu
Abstract:
Although the concept of investments in romantic relationships has featured prominently in close relationships research, there have been no empirical analyses of different types of investments and their possible differential predictive power regarding relationship state or fate. With data from five independent samples, the authors offer and examine investments that differ in terms of their timing (past vs. planned) and materiality (tangible vs. intangible). Cross-sectional and longitudinal tests of hypotheses regarding these investment types provide evidence for the utility of considering specific types of investments in predicting a variety of important relationship factors, including commitment, stability, and the impact of breakup on relationship partners. Intangible investments and planned investments were found to be particularly robust predictors of key relational states and outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
Social Exchange Theory
Social Exchange Theory
Equity Theory
Cross-Sectional Research
Actuarial Approach
Consider the example of a high-risk surgical procedure with significant early-stage mortality. A two-year clinical study is conducted,...
The Anchoring-and-Adjustment Heuristic