Editing Social exchange theory (section)

==Comparison levels==
Social exchange includes "both a notion of a relationship, and some notion of a shared obligation in which both parties perceive responsibilities to each other".<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1177/0149206307307635|title=Taking a Multifoci Approach to the Study of Justice, Social Exchange, and Citizenship Behavior: The Target Similarity Model |journal=Journal of Management|volume=33|issue=6|pages=841–866|year=2007|last1=Lavelle|first1=J. J.|last2=Rupp|first2=D. E.|last3=Brockner|first3=J.|s2cid=143540631 }}</ref> [[John Thibaut]] and [[Harold Kelley]] proposed two comparison standards to differentiate between relationship satisfaction and relationship stability. This evaluation rests on two types of comparisons: '''comparison level''' and '''comparison level for alternative'''. According to Thibaut and Kelley, the comparison level (CL) is a standard representing what people feel they should receive in the way of rewards and costs from a particular relationship. An individual's comparison level can be considered the standard by which an outcome seems to satisfy the individual.<ref name="Griffin">{{cite book |editor1-last=Griffin |editor1-first=Em |title=A First Look at Communication Theory |first1=John |last1=Thibaut |first2=Harold |last2=Kelley |chapter=Social Exchange Theory |pages=196–205 |chapter-url=http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/dl/free/0073385026/228359/socialexchange.pdf |publisher=McGraw Hill |isbn=978-0-07-338502-0 |year=2008}}</ref> The comparison level for alternative (CLalt) refers to "the lowest level of relational rewards a person is willing to accept given available rewards from alternative relationships or being alone".<ref>{{cite book
 | last=Roloff| first=Michael
 | year=1981
 | title=Interpersonal communication: The social exchange approach
 | page=48
 | publisher=Beverly Hills}}</ref> In other words, when using this evaluation tool, an individual will consider other alternative payoffs or rewards outside of the current relationship or exchange.<ref name="Griffin"/> CLalt provides a measure of stability rather than satisfaction. If people see no alternative and fear being alone more than being in the relationship, social exchange theory predicts they will stay.<ref>{{cite book | last1=West | first1=Richard | last2=Turner | first2=Lynn | year=2007 | title=Introducing Communication Theory | page=191 | publisher=McGraw Hill}}</ref>