Social Exchange Theory | Golden Age

Social exchange theory is a sociological and psychological theory that explains how people behave in relationships by using cost-benefit analysis to determine risks and benefits. The theory was influenced by the ideas of Claude Lévi-Strauss and Émile Durkheim. Social exchange theory has been criticized for its oversimplification of human behavior. Jonathan Haidt has argued that social exchange theory neglects the importance of narrative and identity in shaping human behavior. Dan Ariely has argued that social exchange theory can be used to predict human behavior in complex social contexts.