Why do investments increase commitment according to the Investment Model?

Why do investments increase commitment according to the Investment Model?

• A. Ending the relationship would mean losing those investments.
• B. Investments guarantee happiness.
• C. Investments create more conflicts.
• D. Investments are always monetary.

Answer: (A)

Investments increase commitment because, in the Investment Model, what you’ve already put into the relationship (time, energy, shared plans, memories, social ties, and sometimes money) raises the cost of ending it. If the relationship ends, you would lose these investments, so the perceived price of dissolution goes up. That makes staying together feel more worthwhile, even if there are ongoing challenges. This isn’t about guaranteed happiness, and investments don’t inherently cause more conflicts. They aren’t always monetary either; many important investments are non-financial and personal.

Investments increase commitment because, in the Investment Model, what you’ve already put into the relationship (time, energy, shared plans, memories, social ties, and sometimes money) raises the cost of ending it. If the relationship ends, you would lose these investments, so the perceived price of dissolution goes up. That makes staying together feel more worthwhile, even if there are ongoing challenges.

This isn’t about guaranteed happiness, and investments don’t inherently cause more conflicts. They aren’t always monetary either; many important investments are non-financial and personal.