Is social exchange theory compatible with the values of the nursing profession?
The influence of consequential ethics as an ethical framework (the greatest good for the greatest number) opposes the ethical principle of deontology (i.e., the rightness of an act itself determines what is right). Both of these impact the nursing profession. Modern social exchange theories are based on the principle of utility. Read the assumptions of social exchange theory and consider how these would affect the nurse-patient relationship, compared to how these impact the nurse within the health care environment. To what extent are all theories ethical? Is social exchange theory compatible with the values of the nursing profession? Social exchange theory is a social psychological and sociological perspective that explains social change and stability as a process of negotiated exchanges between parties. Social exchange theory posts that all human relationships are formed by the use of a subjective cost-benefit analysis and the comparison of alternatives. Both sociology and psychology try to explain why human beings do what they do, and act in the manner in which they do. Social Exchange theory attempts to explain how we interact with one another and what we get from that interaction. According to Bielkiewicz (McEwen &Wills2014) theories known as exchange theories have their basis in philosophical perspective called utilitarianism. Three basic assumptions about individuals and exchange relations are added from economic theories. Some of the assumptions of social exchange theories as outlined by Turner (2013) are
1. Humans do not seek to maximize profits but attempts to make some profit in their social transactions with others.
2. Humans are not perfectly rational; they engage in calculations of cost and benefit transactions.
3. Humans do not have perfect information on all alternatives.
The father of exchange theory, George Homans (1910 - 1989), dealt primarily with the psychological principles underlying social behavior. Although psychology was
1. Humans do not seek to maximize profits but attempts to make some profit in their social transactions with others.
2. Humans are not perfectly rational; they engage in calculations of cost and benefit transactions.
3. Humans do not have perfect information on all alternatives.
The father of exchange theory, George Homans (1910 - 1989), dealt primarily with the psychological principles underlying social behavior. Although psychology was
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