Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

4-25-2025

Keywords

actors, early 1960s, exchange theory, George Homans, Harold Kelley, human interaction, late 1950s, major school of thought, Peter Blau, psychology, rewards, social exchange theory, social psychology, sociology, John Thibaut, trades

Disciplines

Developmental Psychology

Abstract

Exchange theory originated in the field of sociology in the 1920s. However, since the late 1950s and early 1960s, social exchange theory has been a major school of thought in the field of both social psychology and sociology. This is largely due to the work of George Homans, John Thibaut, Harold Kelley, and Peter Blau. Social exchange theory describes all human interactions as a series of trades or exchanges of rewards between actors.

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