Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
4-25-2025
Keywords
George Homans, human interaction, social exchange theory
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.
Recommended Citation
Goulart, William; Lashley, Lisa K.; and Golden, Charles J., "Social Exchange Theory" (2025). Essays in Developmental Psychology. 189.
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/edp/189