George homans social exchange theory
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Social exchange theory
Generalization theory explaining social behaviour regarding society and economics
Social exchange theory is a sociological and psychological theory that studies the social behavior in the interaction of two parties that implement a cost-benefit analysis to determine risks and benefits. The theory also involves economic relationships—the cost-benefit analysis occurs when each party has goods that the other parties value.[1] Social exchange theory suggests that these calculations occur in a variety of relationships, from romantic relationships and friendships to professional relationships, and even in ephemeral interactions, such as exchanging words with a customer at the cash register.[2] Social exchange theory says that if the costs of the relationship are higher than the rewards, such as if a lot of effort or money were put into a relationship and not reciprocated, then the relationship may be terminated or abandoned.[3]
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George C. Homans
American sociologist (1910–1989)
George Caspar Homans | |
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Associate Professor of Sociology at Harvard in 1946 | |
| Born | (1910-08-11)August 11, 1910 Boston, Massachusetts |
| Died | May 29, 1989(1989-05-29) (aged 78) Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Alma mater | Harvard University (1932), Cambridge University (1955) (Masters) |
| Known for | The Human Group, Social Behavior: Its Elementary Forms, Exchange Theory |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Sociology |
George Caspar Homans (August 11, 1910 – May 29, 1989) was an American sociologist, founder of behavioral sociology, the 54th president of the American Sociological Association, and one of the architects of social exchange theory. Homans is best known in science for his research in social behavior and his works The Human Group, Social Behavior: Its Elementary Forms, his contributions to exchange theory, and the different propositions he developed to expl
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Understanding Social Exchange Theory in Psychology
What Is Social Exchange Theory?
Social exchange theory is a concept based on the idea that social behavior is the result of an exchange process. According to this theory, people weigh the potential benefits and risks of their social relationships. When the risks outweigh the rewards, they will terminate or abandon the relationship. The purpose of this exchange is to maximize benefits and minimize costs.
Most relationships are made up of a certain amount of give-and-take, but this does not mean that they are always equal. Social exchange suggests that it is the valuing of the benefits and costs of each relationship that determine whether or not we choose to continue a social association.
This theory of social interaction has been used across a variety of fields, including sociology, psychology, and even economics.
One of the most basic examples of social exchange theory is being asked on a date. If you feel that the