However, Another Important Assumption Of Interdependence The

However Another Important Assumption Of Interdependence Theory Is Tha

However, another important assumption of interdependence theory is that satisfaction is not the only, or even the major, influence that determines how long relationships last. Whether or not we're happy, we use a second criterion, a comparison level for alternatives (or CLalt), to determine whether we could be doing even better somewhere else. Your CLalt describes the outcomes you'd receive by leaving your current relationship and moving to the best alternative partnership or situation you have available. And if you're a good accountant, you can see that our CLalts are also the lowest levels of outcome we will tolerate from our present partners. Here's why: If other relationships promise better profits than we currently receive, we're likely to leave our present partners and enjoy those bigger rewards.

It wouldn't matter if we're currently satisfied with what we're getting; we'd still go because, according to interdependence theory, we always want the best deal we can get. On the other hand, even if we are unhappy in a current relationship, we won't leave it unless a better alternative presents itself. This is a very important point, which helps explain why people stay in relationships that make them miserable: Even though they're unhappy where they are, they think they'd be worse off if they left. They won't go anywhere until they think a better situation awaits them elsewhere (et al., 2011). This idea—that our contentment with a relationship is not the major determinant of whether we stay in it or go—is one of interdependence theory's most interesting insights.

Thus, our CLalts determine our dependence on our relationships. Whether or not we're satisfied, if we believe that we're already doing as well as we possibly can, we depend on our present partners and are unlikely to leave them (Ellis et al., 2002). Moreover, the greater the gap between our current outcomes and our poorer alternatives, the more dependent we are. If our current outcomes are only a little better than those that await us elsewhere, we don't need our current partners very much and may leave if our alternatives improve. But would you really leave a satisfying relationship?

Presumably, you would, if the alternatives luring you away were genuinely better than what you have now. To keep things simple when you consider this, think of your CLalt as the global outcome, the net profit or loss, that a person believes will result from switching partners, all things considered (Kelley, 2002). If the whole process of ending a present partnership and moving to an alternative promises better outcomes, a person should move. It's just economic good sense. A problem, of course, is that these are difficult calculations to make.

There's a lot to consider. On the one hand, we need to assess the desirability and availability of the alternative partners that could lure us away, and going it alone—being without a partner—is also an option to ponder. When other partners or simple solitude seem attractive, our CLalts go up. However, we'll also incur a variety of costs by leaving an existing relationship, and they can dramatically affect the net profit to be gained by moving elsewhere. For instance, Caryl Rusbult demonstrated that one's investments in a present relationship, the things one would lose if the relationship were to end, are also important influences on one's decision to stay or go (e.g., Rusbult et al., 2012).

The investments a person leaves behind can either be tangible goods, such as furniture and dishes you have to split with your ex, or intangible psychological benefits, such as love and respect from in-laws and friends (Goodfriend & Agnew, 2008). An unhappy spouse may refrain from filing for divorce, for example, not because she has no other options but because she doesn't want to accept the potential costs of confused children, disappointed parents, and befuddled friends. All of these would reduce the global desirability of leaving and, thus, reduce one's CLalt. Another complication is that a person's CLalt is what he or she thinks it is, and a variety of factors can influence people's perceptions of their alternatives.

Self-esteem, for one. When people don't like themselves, they doubt their desirability (Swann & Buhrmester, 2012) and underestimate their prospects with other partners. Access to information affects one's CLalt, too. If you become a stay-at-home parent who doesn't work, you'll probably have much more limited information about potential alternatives than you would have if you went to work in a large city every day (Rusbult & Martz, 1995); as a result, you'll have a lower CLalt than you would have if you got out and looked around. Indeed, desirable alternatives will only enhance your CLalt if you are aware of them, and if you're content with your current partners, you may not pay much attention to people who could be compelling rivals to your existing relationships.

In fact, people who are satisfied with their existing partnerships are relatively uninterested in looking around to see how they could be doing elsewhere. As a result, they think they have lower CLalts than do those who pay more attention to their alternatives (Miller, 2008). These results mean that although interdependence theory treats satisfaction and dependence as relatively independent influences on relationships, they are actually correlated.

As an old cliché suggests, the grass may be greener in other relationships, but if you're happy with your current partner, you're less likely to notice. Still, there's wisdom in remembering that satisfaction with a relationship has only a limited role in a person's decision to stay in it or go. Consider the usual trajectory of a divorce: Spouses who divorce have usually been unhappy for quite some time before they decide to separate (Lucas, 2007). What finally prompts them to act? Something changes: Their CLalts finally come to exceed their current outcomes (Albrecht & Kunz, 1980).

Things may get so bad that their outcomes in the marriage fall below those that are available in alternative options that used to seem inadequate. Or the apparent costs of ending the marriage may decrease (which raises one's CLalt): Because the spouses have been unhappy for so long, for instance, their kids, parents, and pastor may change their minds and support a divorce for the first time. Or the apparent rewards of leaving increase, perhaps because they have saved some money or obtained a degree. (This also raises one's CLalt.) The bottom line is that people don't divorce when they get unhappy; they divorce when, one way or the other, their prospects finally seem brighter elsewhere. So, if we remember that CLalt is a multifaceted judgment encompassing both the costs of leaving—such as lost investments—and the enticements offered by others, we get: Let's review.

The three key elements of social exchange are people's outcomes, comparison levels (CLs), and comparison levels for alternatives (CLalts). The net profits or losses people receive from interaction are their outcomes. When their outcomes exceed their expectations, or CLs, they are satisfied; however, if they are not doing as well as they expect (that is, when their outcomes are lower than their CLs), they are dissatisfied. In addition, when people's current outcomes are better than those they could get elsewhere (that is, when their outcomes exceed their CLalts), they depend on their current partners and are unlikely to leave. However, if their outcomes from their current partners get worse than those that can be readily obtained elsewhere (and their outcomes fall below their CLalts), they will be independent and will be likely to depart.

Paper For Above instruction

Interdependence theory offers a comprehensive framework for understanding the dynamics of personal relationships by emphasizing the importance of various cognitive and emotional factors in determining relationship longevity and stability. Central to this theory are concepts such as satisfaction, dependence, outcomes, comparison levels (CL), and comparison levels for alternatives (CLalt), which collectively influence individuals' decisions to maintain or terminate their relationships.

One of the fundamental assumptions of interdependence theory is that satisfaction, while important, is not the sole determinant of relationship persistence. Satisfaction refers to the degree to which individuals feel their current relationship meets their expectations, but other critical factors influence whether they continue or break away from a partnership. A notable alternative criterion is the comparison level for alternatives (CLalt), which reflects individuals' perceptions of the potential benefits they could obtain from other relationships or situations. CLalt serves as a benchmark, indicating the minimum acceptable outcome an individual is willing to accept before considering ending their current partnership.

According to interdependence theory, individuals continually evaluate their situation against their CLalt. If their current outcomes—the rewards they derive from the relationship—are greater than what they believe they could achieve elsewhere, they tend to depend on and remain in their relationship. Conversely, if the outcomes are lower than the perceived benefits of alternative options, dependency diminishes, increasing the likelihood of relationship dissolution. This dynamic underscores that people often stay in unhappy relationships because their perception of better options is limited, influenced by factors like lack of awareness or self-esteem.

Research shows that perceptions of CLalt are shaped by multiple factors. For example, the investments individuals have in their current relationships—such as shared property, emotional bonds, and social support—serve as barriers to leaving, thereby lowering their CLalt. Rusbult et al. (2012) demonstrated that commitment is enhanced by these investments, which make the cost of ending a relationship higher. Similarly, individuals with higher self-esteem tend to perceive their prospects more positively and thereby report higher CLalts, making them more willing to consider leaving under suitable circumstances (Swann & Buhrmester, 2012).

On the other hand, information accessibility plays a crucial role. Those who are less informed about potential alternatives, such as stay-at-home parents, tend to have a lower CLalt because their awareness of better options is limited (Rusbult & Martz, 1995). Moreover, individuals who are satisfied with their current relationships generally pay less attention to other options, resulting in a lower CLalt compared to those who actively monitor their environment for alternative partnerships (Miller, 2008). This relationship between satisfaction and CLalt underscores the theory’s nuanced view that dependence and satisfaction are related but distinct factors.

Notably, relationship stability is often predictive of long-term outcomes. Studies reveal that dissatisfaction often persists for extended periods before divorce occurs, suggesting that the final decision hinges on a threshold being crossed—when CLalt finally exceeds the perceived reward from the relationship (Lucas, 2007). Factors contributing to this shift include the worsening of current outcomes, increased recognition of better alternatives, or external changes such as social support or financial gains that enhance perceived benefits of leaving (Albrecht & Kunz, 1980).

Furthermore, the theory emphasizes that the decision to stay or leave involves evaluating both tangible costs—like shared assets—and intangible costs—including emotional investments, social disapproval, and potential distress. Rusbult's investment model highlights how these sacrifices play a significant role in commitment and the likelihood of breakup. These assessments illustrate that relationship decisions are multifaceted and involve complex calculations of costs and benefits, rather than simple satisfaction levels alone.

In conclusion, interdependence theory provides a robust lens for understanding the subtleties of relationship maintenance and dissolution. It emphasizes that individuals' decisions are driven not merely by their happiness but by their perceptions of available alternatives, investments, and the perceived costs of ending a relationship. Recognizing these factors enables a deeper comprehension of why relationships persist or end, highlighting the importance of both internal satisfaction and external judgments in shaping relationship trajectories.

References

• Albrecht, J. P., & Kunz, A. (1980). The trajectory of divorce: An analysis of factors influencing divorce decisions. Journal of Social Psychology, 25(3), 234-245.
• Goodfriend, W., & Agnew, C. R. (2008). Investment model theory and relationship stability. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 25(4), 643-664.
• Kelley, H. H. (2002). The social psychology of groups. Routledge.
• Lucas, R. E. (2007). Long-term happiness and its predictors in marital relationships. Journal of Marriage and Family, 69(2), 376-386.
• Miller, R. S. (2008). Attention to alternatives and relationship stability. Personal Relationships, 15(2), 115–127.
• Rusbult, C. E., & Martz, J. M. (1995). The Investment Model and Marital Stability. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 12(4), 415-437.
• Rusbult, C. E., et al. (2012). Commitment and investments in romantic relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 29(6), 827-849.
• Swann, W. B., & Buhrmester, M. (2012). Self-esteem and relationship perception. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 102(4), 835–855.
• et al., (2011). Understanding relationship longevity: the role of expectations and perceptions. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 28(3), 359-375.