Theoretical frameworks Two different types 1 Social Exchange Theory 2 General Systems Family Systems Theory Social Exchange Theory Definition Human interaction including that in families is viewed as marketplace o Principle of economic transaction applied to interpersonal behavior A B two interacting persons in the marketplace Theory has been used in social psychology literature to address attraction power dependence justice and conformity in human relationships Assumption o Human beings are hedonistic and logical Will always act to maximize rewards and minimize Theoretical Assumptions costs e g receive best profit o Aspects of others behavior associated with reward punishment will acquire reward punishment value to us o We select partners and behaviors that have given us favorable outcomes in the past o As the same behaviors are repeated over time the reward value of each unit of behavior decreases Key Concepts o Reward o Costs o Profit o Comparison Level o Comparison Level for Alternatives Satiation the more of a reward we have received the less valuable it becomes to us The more the behavior is repeated the more costly its production will become o Fatigue sets in o The more scarce something valuable is the more rewarding each unit is And the more powerful the person or people who Power and Dependence have it o A has power over B to the extent that B is dependent on him her for good outcomes o Assumes any person will leave relationship if it is not above the comparison level of alternatives o Relative dependence of A over B is the distance each partner is above the comparison level of alternatives Relevance to family relationships o E g domestic violence o Remaining in loveless relationships due to economic need General Systems Family Systems Theory Molecular Analogy o Family systems consist of smaller interacting elements in a particular social historical context Characteristics of systems o Boundaries all families have boundaries Boundaries are open or closed o Organization defined roles e g parent older sibling o Hierarchy power assigned to roles o Feedback Loops used to obtain balance and change moment to moment interactions in Transactions families Best boundaries for a family 1 Rigid Boundary 2 Semi permeable Boundary 3 Loose Boundaries
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