Social Exchange Theory

Seriously, the "Social Exchange Theory" may be my favorite thing I learned as a pysch major.  So relevant and applicable to daily life.

You can google it, and it comes up with all kinds of info.  But, one website describes it perfectly.  I got this from http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/social_exchange.htm:

All relationships have give and take, although the balance of this exchange is not always equal. Social Exchange theory explains how we feel about a relationship with another person as depending on our perceptions of:

• The balance between what we put into the relationship and what we get out of it.
• The kind of relationship we deserve.
• The chances of having a better relationship with someone else.

I broke up with Batman today.  Been thinking long and hard about the relationship I was having with him.  And, there were no real benefits to me.  And honestly, I couldn't see any lasting benefit to him either.  Other than a hook up now and then.  And, I'm learning more about what I deserve.  I think I deserve something with a little more substance than that.  I gave us a chance to add some substance and that clearly wasn't a priority on both sides.  So, time to move on.  It was not as easy of a decision as I thought.  But, I feel like it was right and the best decision for me.  I need to get better about realizing and doing what's good for me.  This was a good step towards that.