Which theory posits relationships are defined through interdependence and uses perceptions and expectations to understand how we view ourselves in relationships?

• A. Social Exchange Theory
• B. Interdependence Theory
• C. Attachment Theory
• D. Evolutionary Theory

Answer: (B)

Relationships are defined by mutual dependence, where each partner’s outcomes depend on the other’s actions. Interdependence Theory centers on this shared influence and explains how what we expect, perceive as rewarding or costly, and believe about our alternatives shape how we see ourselves within the relationship. Our perceptions of the partner’s behavior and our expectations about what we deserve or can get elsewhere mold our self-concept as a relational person—how involved we are, how committed we feel, and how we navigate the dynamic together. This focus on interdependence and cognitive judgments about rewards, costs, and alternatives is what makes this theory the best fit for describing how we view ourselves in relationships. The other theories address different angles—attachment patterns, mating needs, or straightforward cost-benefit calculations—without emphasizing the mutual dependence and perception-driven self-view central to this concept.