Conference Proceedings

2007 Social Psychology Section Annual Conference

Conference Venue: Department of Psychology, University of Kent
Social Psychology Section

From: 09 May 2007
To: 09 Jul 2007

 
Peer-Reviewed

When do we give to each other? An attributional account of giving and an alternative application of equity theory

Alexios Arvanitis & Alexandra Hantzi
Panteion University, Athens, Greece


Relationships are often seen as a “give-and-take” interaction. When do people actually think they have given and when do they think they have received? Most social situations and relationships involve far more than the mere transfer of an object (in which it is easy to discern who is giving and who is receiving); they are situations of interdependence, i.e. all relevant actors may benefit from the interaction. We hypothesize that the attribution process of giving takes into account the inputs and outcomes of all counterparts in an interdependent situation. We further hypothesize that ratios similar to the ones proposed by equity theory are used to attribute the giving of one actor to the other, once “disproportionality” is observed. Equity theory suggests that such disproportionality is a sign of inequity and therefore of injustice. Our research aims at investigating whether the normative part of equity theory (the fact that ratios of inputs to outcomes “should” be equal) is primarily a matter of agreement on the rules guiding the interaction. Although equity theory suggests that the ratios “should” be equal we hypothesize that it is rules, norms, values that provide an additional element in the attribution process based on which fairness or justice is assessed. In other words, rules impose the “should” element in a social interaction, a “should” that is not inherent in the ratios themselves. In our line of research, equity theory can be viewed as an attributional instrument of giving, rather than a mere rule of justice. Research is currently in progress to test the previous hypotheses.