Investment Model

Investment Model

The main components of this model are;

• Satisfaction
• Quality of Alternatives
• Investment

Satisfaction

• As with social exchange theory, satisfaction is the product of the outcomes of a relationship
• The outcomes are compared to a personal standard of what is acceptable
• If the outcomes surpass that level, the individual is satisfiesd in the relationship
• If they don't surpass that level, the individual is not satisfied

Quality of Alternatives

• If there is a more attractive alternative (being alone or being with someone else), then a person may be led towards ending a relationship
• If that alternative does not exist, they may maintain the relationship

Investment

• Investment is anything a person puts into a relationship that they will lose if the relationship ends (time, money, mutual friends)

Research Support

• Rusbult tested this theory by asking college students in heterosexual and homosexual relationships to complete questionairres over a 7 month period
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