interdependence theory

an approach to analyzing social interactions and relationships that focuses on how each person’s outcomes depend on the actions of others. More specifically, interdependence theory identifies the most important characteristics of social situations and describes their implications for understanding how individuals make choices and take action. A central element of the theory is the proposition that people have standards against which they compare their current outcomes. When people’s actual experiences are inconsistent with their standards, they may act to alter the situation. See outcome interdependence. [introduced in 1959 by John W. Thibaut and Harold H. Kelley]