case study

Jacob and Aurora have been happily married for 5 years, until a recent change in circumstance . Jacob is a pharmaceutical rep, spends a lot of time traveling , he spends 4 days a week on the road traveling and the rest working from home. Aurora is a teacher at the local elementary school. In the past year Aurora has been diagnosed Mutiple Sclerosis. The couple is now focused on doctor appointments and handling Aurora’s illness. They
have stopped openly communicating with each other . They no longer feel comfortable and at ease with each other.
Jacob has come to resent the fact that he has to take care of Aurora. That the realtionship has become care-taker - patient relationship. He dreads coming home and spends more time traveling for his job. He also finds himself interested in other women. He is contaplating having an affair with one of his co-workers. Aurora has become depressed since her diagnoses and because of recent deterioration of her marriage. She has tried to discuss the problems with Jacob and the possibly of seeing a marriage counselor but he refuse to accept there is a change in their relationship.

The relationship lacks the proper balance between the two individuals. This relates to the equity theory. It use the basic element of the social exchange theory to make the hypothesis that, “ people are happiest where the give and take are equal. “ ( Equity) In this case you can see that the give and take are not equal. This is causing the relationship to crumble.
The social exchange theory is based on relationships that use rewards and cost to measure whether the benefits of the relationship outweighs the costs. The development of Aurora's illness changed the foundation of the relationship. The couple is no longer getting what they need from each other.

1) What information can you use from the social exchange theory to make a suggestion on how to improve the situation for Jacob and Aurora?
2) Can you use social exchange theory as a guideline in
personal and professional relationships?
3) Why do feel that it is important to have a balance relationship?
4) Is there more to a relationships than measuring what is being given and what is being taken?