Equity: the battle cry of childhood – It’s not fair – tends to follow us throughout life. Can it affect job satisfaction? Let’s take a look at how fairness, or the lack thereof, plays itself out in the work place. Get ready for a little math. Math? In psychology? You’ll see.
Equity Theory
- Inputs: the things that you bring to the job such as your degree, your experience, your talents and skills, even your personality in some cases.
- Outputs: what you get from your job such as the pay, the benefits package, bonus, the size of your office, prestige, etc.
Equity also operates in our personal relationships. Have you ever felt that you are doing a lot for one of your friends, but that friend isn’t doing much for you? How long does that friendship last?
- Inputs: time you spend with your friend, time you spend listening to your friend’s problems, money you loan to your friend, favors you do for your friend.
- Outcomes: amount of time your friend listens to your problems, willingness of your friend to loan you money, favors you get from your friend, prestige you get from hanging around with this friend
Adam Brensen
May 19, 2007Michael! I’m so glad that I’ve discovered this podcast! I’m returning to school for a BS in psychology leading hopefully to a master’s degree in organizational psychology in the future as well. It’s so helpful for me to understand these applicable concepts of psychology now at the beginning of my new trajectory. Thanks so much!
Michael
May 19, 2007Khamael, Glad you liked this episode. Equity theory is one of my favorites – pretty simple, straightforward theory that seems to explain a lot in life. I do talk about goal setting (Locke) and Vroom (expectancy theory) in future episodes so I hope you like those as well. Thanks for the comment!
Khamael Al Safi
May 19, 2007Great analytical look at Equity theory. The examples also clarified a lot of confusions. Really keen to listen to your perceptions on other theories of motivation: Maslow, Vroom, Locke etc in the future!
Thanks for this and love the quote at the end….would mess with my head if I think about it too much though..
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May 19, 2007[…] Here is the link to my previous episode on the concept of Equity. […]
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May 19, 2007[…] Here is the link to my previous episode on the concept of Equity. […]