What does CLalt represent?

• A. Our satisfaction with current relationship
• B. Our ideas about what we could be getting from other relationships
• C. Our feelings of love
• D. Our self-esteem

Answer: (B)

CLalt, the comparison level for alternatives, is about what you think you could get from other relationships if you left your current one. It serves as a benchmark for deciding whether the rewards of staying outweigh the perceived rewards of leaving. It’s different from how satisfied you are currently (that’s about the current relationship’s rewards) and from your feelings of love or your self-esteem. If you believe better options exist, CLalt is high and leaving seems more appealing; if you don’t, CLalt is low and you’re more likely to stay.