25 Questions
What is the primary reason people form relationships?
Because they are motivated by self-interest and interdependence
What is the concept that guides human interactions according to social exchange theory?
Self-interest and interdependence
What is the assumption behind social exchange theory?
People make rational choices based on evaluating rewards and punishments
What is a limitation of social exchange theory?
It reduces human interactions to a rational process of comparing pros and cons
What is a criticism of rational choice theory?
It assumes people make rational choices based on evaluating rewards and punishments
What is a criticism of exchange theory?
It reduces human interactions to a rational process of comparing pros and cons
Why do people form relationships?
To benefit themselves and because they depend on others to live
What is a limitation of social exchange theory in explaining social structures?
It cannot explain every single social structure
What is a criticism of rational choice theory and social exchange theory?
They assume people are limited by social factors like gender, ethnicity, or social class
What is the main idea behind social exchange theory?
People are motivated by self-interest and interdependence
What is a key factor that influences how people evaluate interactions?
Societal norms and values
Why do people in modern society form relationships?
To benefit themselves and because they depend on others to live
What do people do when evaluating interactions with others?
They analyze interactions based on their subjective interpretation
What is a common critique of rational choice theory?
It fails to explain why people sometimes act against their own self-interest
What do critics argue about the formation of relationships?
It can move backward or jump ahead
What is a common limitation of social exchange theory?
It reduces human interactions to a rational process
According to social exchange theory, what guides human behavior?
Self-interest and interdependence
What do rational choice theory and exchange theory attempt to explain?
Society through individuals and interactions
What is a key aspect of social exchange theory?
It views relationships as a means to benefit oneself and others
What is a limitation of rational choice theory and exchange theory?
They try to explain every social structure by the actions of individuals
What is the underlying assumption behind the idea that people form relationships based on self-interest and interdependence?
People's standards for evaluating interactions change over time and vary from person to person.
What is the primary criticism of rational choice theory with regard to people's choices?
People's choices are limited by social factors like gender or ethnicity.
What is the limitation of social exchange theory in explaining social structures?
It reduces all human interactions to a linear process.
What is the key factor that influences how people evaluate interactions with others?
Social norms and expectations.
What is the main goal of rational choice theory and exchange theory?
To explain society through the actions of individuals and their interactions.
Study Notes
Rational Choice Theory
- Assumes that people are motivated by self-interest and seek to maximize personal gain
- People act rationally, weighing the costs and benefits of possible actions
- Rationality is a property of a series of choices, not an individual choice
- People calculate the costs and benefits of every action and choose the one with the best outcome for themselves
Underlying Assumptions of Rational Choice Theory
- Completeness: every action can be ranked
- Transitivity: if A is preferable to B, and B is preferable to C, then A is preferable to C
- Independence of irrelevant alternatives: adding a new option won't change the ranking of existing options
Exchange Theory
- An application of rational choice theory to social interactions
- Looks at society as a series of interactions between individuals
- Studied in the context of family relationships, work relationships, partner selection, and other interpersonal interactions
Exchange Theory Assumptions
- People seek to rationally maximize their profits
- Behavior that results in a reward is likely to be repeated
- The more often a reward is available, the less value it has
- Interactions operate within social norms
- People have access to the information they need to make rational choices
- Most human fulfillment comes from other people
- The standards people use to evaluate interactions change over time and differ from person to person
Social Exchange and Interdependence
- Central to social exchange are the concepts of self-interest and interdependence
- We form relationships to benefit ourselves and because we depend on other people to live
- Most people in modern society cannot be completely self-sufficient
Criticisms of Rational Choice Theory and Exchange Theory
- Do people really make rational choices?
- Limited choices due to social factors like gender, ethnicity, or social class
- Why do people do things that benefit others more than themselves?
- Why do people follow social norms that cause them to act in the best interests of others?
- Is it really possible to explain every social structure by the actions of individuals?
- Reducing human interactions to a rational process of comparing pros and cons is oversimplification
Rational Choice Theory
- Assumes that people are motivated by self-interest and seek to maximize personal gain
- People act rationally, weighing the costs and benefits of possible actions
- Rationality is a property of a series of choices, not an individual choice
- People calculate the costs and benefits of every action and choose the one with the best outcome for themselves
Underlying Assumptions of Rational Choice Theory
- Completeness: every action can be ranked
- Transitivity: if A is preferable to B, and B is preferable to C, then A is preferable to C
- Independence of irrelevant alternatives: adding a new option won't change the ranking of existing options
Exchange Theory
- An application of rational choice theory to social interactions
- Looks at society as a series of interactions between individuals
- Studied in the context of family relationships, work relationships, partner selection, and other interpersonal interactions
Exchange Theory Assumptions
- People seek to rationally maximize their profits
- Behavior that results in a reward is likely to be repeated
- The more often a reward is available, the less value it has
- Interactions operate within social norms
- People have access to the information they need to make rational choices
- Most human fulfillment comes from other people
- The standards people use to evaluate interactions change over time and differ from person to person
Social Exchange and Interdependence
- Central to social exchange are the concepts of self-interest and interdependence
- We form relationships to benefit ourselves and because we depend on other people to live
- Most people in modern society cannot be completely self-sufficient
Criticisms of Rational Choice Theory and Exchange Theory
- Do people really make rational choices?
- Limited choices due to social factors like gender, ethnicity, or social class
- Why do people do things that benefit others more than themselves?
- Why do people follow social norms that cause them to act in the best interests of others?
- Is it really possible to explain every social structure by the actions of individuals?
- Reducing human interactions to a rational process of comparing pros and cons is oversimplification
Rational Choice Theory
- Assumes that people are motivated by self-interest and seek to maximize personal gain
- People act rationally, weighing the costs and benefits of possible actions
- Rationality is a property of a series of choices, not an individual choice
- People calculate the costs and benefits of every action and choose the one with the best outcome for themselves
Underlying Assumptions of Rational Choice Theory
- Completeness: every action can be ranked
- Transitivity: if A is preferable to B, and B is preferable to C, then A is preferable to C
- Independence of irrelevant alternatives: adding a new option won't change the ranking of existing options
Exchange Theory
- An application of rational choice theory to social interactions
- Looks at society as a series of interactions between individuals
- Studied in the context of family relationships, work relationships, partner selection, and other interpersonal interactions
Exchange Theory Assumptions
- People seek to rationally maximize their profits
- Behavior that results in a reward is likely to be repeated
- The more often a reward is available, the less value it has
- Interactions operate within social norms
- People have access to the information they need to make rational choices
- Most human fulfillment comes from other people
- The standards people use to evaluate interactions change over time and differ from person to person
Social Exchange and Interdependence
- Central to social exchange are the concepts of self-interest and interdependence
- We form relationships to benefit ourselves and because we depend on other people to live
- Most people in modern society cannot be completely self-sufficient
Criticisms of Rational Choice Theory and Exchange Theory
- Do people really make rational choices?
- Limited choices due to social factors like gender, ethnicity, or social class
- Why do people do things that benefit others more than themselves?
- Why do people follow social norms that cause them to act in the best interests of others?
- Is it really possible to explain every social structure by the actions of individuals?
- Reducing human interactions to a rational process of comparing pros and cons is oversimplification
This quiz covers the principles of Rational Choice Theory, a fundamental concept in economics and decision-making. It assumes people act rationally to maximize personal gain, weighing costs and benefits of possible actions.
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