People constantly evaluate the rewards and costs of their relationship as well as the rewards and costs of interaction with another individual. Rewards and costs can be tangible, such as money or gifts, or psychological, such as social support or intellectual stimulation (Unger & Johnson 604). According to Unger and Johnson, "if the reward/cost balance is more favorable than that of other potential relationships, the person will remain in the relationship, if the costs outweigh the rewards and an alternative relationship with more favorable outcomes is available, the person will leave the existing relationship in favor of the alternative" (604). Yet each reward and cost is different to each individual. To better understand reward and costs is to better understand each individual.
The primary theorists, John Thibaut and Harold Kelley, made a list of assumptions that the Social Exchange theory is based on. This list falls into two categories; one that focuses on individuals, and one that describes the social exchange between two people (Unger & Johnson 604). The assumptions that the Social Exchange theory makes are about human nature and the nature of relationships. The first, as mentioned earlier, is that of reward and punishment. Humans seek rewards and avoid .
Social Exchange Theory 4.
punishment, which is consistent with the conceptualization of drive reduction (West & Turner 182). As stated by West and Turner, "this approach assumes that people's .
behaviors are motivated by some internal drive mechanism" (182). It is only until that person has satisfied that internal drive mechanism that they feel fulfilled. .
The second assumption is that the standards that people use to evaluate costs and rewards change over time and from person to person (West & Turner 182). This statement suggests that the theory must take diversity into concern (West & Turner 182). No two people are the same therefore their ideas of what they want and need, can change over time.