According to social exchange theory, which statement best captures its view on relationship satisfaction?

• A. Social exchange theory emphasizes costs, rewards, and comparison levels to judge whether staying is worthwhile.
• B. Equity theory concentrates on fairness in inputs and outputs but is the same as social exchange in predicting satisfaction.
• C. Equity theory predicts satisfaction based solely on time spent together.
• D. Equity theory is only applicable to friendships, not romantic relationships.

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is that relationship satisfaction comes from fairness in what each partner puts in and gets out, viewed through the lens of reciprocal exchange. Equity theory zeroes in on proportionality: you feel satisfied when your inputs (time, effort, care) and outputs (benefits, affection, rewards) are balanced with your partner’s in a fair way. This fits social exchange thinking, because it centers on how people assess exchanges—do the rewards outweigh the costs, and is the exchange fair compared to what you expect or deserve? When fairness is perceived, satisfaction tends to be higher; when it feels imbalanced, dissatisfaction arises and people may try to restore equity.

Keep in mind that equity theory is closely linked to social exchange theory—often seen as a specific application of it—so saying it captures satisfaction by focusing on fairness in inputs and outputs aligns with how exchange processes are understood in relationships. It’s not about time spent or about applying only to friendships; both theories address romantic relationships by examining how perceived fairness and reciprocal exchange shape how satisfied people feel.