Exchange Theory and the Micro-Foundations of Social Structures

 Article Summary
Peter M. Blau claims that human associations are governed by primitive psychological processes that motivate them to seek rewards in relationships. He defines social attractions as forces that motivate people to establish relationships and expand their associations without being forced to do so. He notes that people are forced to establish relationships involuntarily and voluntarily. This includes the relationships between parents and children (involuntary) and employers and workers (voluntary).

The author claims that the level of any relationship is determined by the degree of mutual attraction between individuals. Blau believes that individuals are attracted to others if they expect their association to reward them. The rewards are determined by the psychological needs of a person, and this is an important factor that defines the personality or position of the people the individual will be attracted to. Social interactions have intrinsic values that compel individuals to develop relations with others; moreover, they have mutual benefits that make people show that they are attractive to others. Therefore, this process leads to social change because individuals must behave in ways that will attract others to them. In addition, it motivates people to change their behavior and do what will prove to others that their associations will reward them. Extrinsic relations are those that reward both parties, and this means that everybody expects to benefit from the relationship. For instance, the association between customers and sellers is determined by the price and quality of goods offered. Customers will prefer to associate with suppliers that sell cheap and quality products.

He claims that when people collectively approve of power they legitimize it and this becomes a way of governing their behavior. Therefore, they will endure hardships when the benefits they get from those in power are more than their suffering. In addition, the subjects agree and approve the leader’s demands, and this means that they will have an obligation to follow his directives. On the other hand, collective disapproval of power promotes aggression and resistance to a legitimate force. This means that it is easy for people who have similar predicaments to have strong social relationships. This gives them the power to organize revolutions and strikes to compel their leaders to seek ways of establishing a common ground for workers and their employers.

The author argues that there is a need for relationships to be balanced. In addition, he claims that imbalances promote equilibrium because people will be forced to act in ways that will ensure they show appreciation to those that assist them. The future of most social attractions is determined by reciprocity. Individuals show appreciation by behaving in ways that will encourage others to assist them. For instance, a boy will sacrifice a lot of his time and money to make his girlfriend happy. On the other hand, the girl must be loyal and submissive to her boyfriend to encourage him to continue extending his favors.

Analysis
This article shows that social order cannot emerge spontaneously because individuals must act voluntarily to get what they want from others. It is important to explain that people are compelled to establish social order by their desires to attain some ends. Individuals associate with others and change their behaviors to ensure they cultivate good conditions for others to help them. Social order emerges when needy people are forced to obey others to ensure they attract their favors. Therefore, workers cannot get good salaries if they do not perform their duties as expected. On the other hand, employers will not get profits if they do not pay workers good salaries. Therefore, these intrinsic benefits motivate people to change their behavior when they expect rewards from others.

In addition, society has various forms of imbalances that create social classes. Blau argues that individuals can establish equilibrium in their relationships if they allow others to exercise power over them. People expect favors from others and do things that will ensure the means to their ends are justified. For instance, a boy will use a lot of money to make his girlfriend happy and expect her to respect, love, and spend time with him. Therefore, people must sacrifice their preferences and likes to ensure they make others happy and create a balance of needs among them. The need to satisfy an individual’s needs makes people allow others to dictate various issues in their lives. They voluntarily give others the power to make decisions for them and determine various issues in their lives. This becomes an imbalance if workers do not get the expected rewards from their bosses.