Name of Class:

NURSING 512 Urban

Theory and Research
TITLE OF PRESENTATION
SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY

POWER POINT PRESENTATION

ON SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY
BY
Ikome, Christiana

EXPLANATION OF THE
THEORY
Individuals interact for profit or the expectation

of it. Remember that behavioral psychology

(a.k.a. operant conditioning, stimulus-response
psychology)
All behavior stem out of a very basic desire to
seek rewards and avoid punishments.
individuals (a.k.a. organisms, subjects, units)
create sets of strategies that they believe will
increase the odds in their favor. We learn what is
rewarding by emitting an array of behaviors until
one of them results in a positive reinforcement

What is social exchange theory?

A Social, Psychological and

Sociological perspective
that explains social
change and stability as a
process of negotiated
exchange between parties

ORIGIN OF THE THEORY

Social exchange theory has its origins in

Structural Anthropology (Levi-Straus),

Behavioral Psychology (B.F. Skinner, Albert
Bandura),
Utilitarian Economics (D. Ricardo, Adam
Smith, J. S. Mill),
Sociology (George Homans, Peter Blau)
Social Psychology (Thibaut & Kelly)

Basic concepts
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Cost
Benefit
Outcome
Comparison level
Alternatives
Satisfaction
Dependency

Social exchange philosophy

cost

outcom
e

bene
fit

Utility of the Theory: practice

Individuals have different expectations of

relationships and individual satisfaction with a
relationship depends on more than just the
outcome (e.g. magnet status)
Maternal-child home visit by nurse. A
cost/profit relationship.

Utility of the Theory: Research

Benefits in exchange for time, knowledge, effort

(research example)
Ethical cash or medical benefits in exchange of
self, diagnosis, time etc. (research example)

Utility of the theory:

Research
Mate selection research describes the process
of finding a mate that meets our needs.
Marital stability research describes the state
of having needs met with little cost, If we
weren't happy, we'd leave. Marital
satisfaction, family violence, parenting, sexual
scripting, role differentiation, and work and
family relationships research all use SE theory
tenets as guiding principles.

Utility of the Theory: Education

Benefits in exchange for time, knowledge, effort (teacher /student

relationship example)
Bargaining/Negotiation is a process by which individuals may perceive

a sense of power in their relationships. (pursuing higher education)

Each relationship stands on its own in SE theory.
Reinforcement is a device by which behaviors are encouraged

(positive reinforcement, rewards or absence of punishment),

discouraged (negative reinforcement, punishments or lack of
rewards).

Questions

References
Byrd, M. (2006). Social exchange as a framework for client-nurse
interaction during
public health nursing maternal-child home visits. Public Health
Nursing, 23(3),
271-276.
McGregor, L., Parker, K., LeBlanc, P., & King, K. (2010). Using social
exchange theory
to guide successful study recruitment and retention. Nurse
Researcher, 17(2), 7482.
Nakonezny, P., & Denton, W. (2008). Marital relationships: a social
exchange theory
perspective. American Journal Of Family Therapy, 36(5), 402-412.