Expectations
People engage in social exchange because they expect certain things to happen. First of all, they expect reciprocity. Give and take, nobody does something for free; and when it seems it is for free, e.g. when someone makes a favor to another, without taking money, he expects reciprocity some day, recognition now and gratitude usually, not always, but typically that is why people engage in making favors. Even if it is a favor to a friend, gratitude and recognition, a simple thank you is expected to be stated.
Expected also is the gain of reputation and influence on others. Instead of money or a direct reward, one capitalizes in a non material way, but it still remains an investment for the future.
Things are not so dark all the time, sometimes people give something not to take something else back, out of altruism. Yes people, some have altruism in their personalities, not everybody is like us. When a buddy of yours asks you for advice on what to do with his hair loss, don’t mock him or buy a wig the other day as a present. Tell him what you know on the subject, suggest someone that can help and don’t expect anything in return, after all you didn’t spend a dime n this, unless you really bought that wig.
The equity theory explains the relational satisfaction in terms of perception of fair or unfair distribution of resources among the members of interpersonal relationships. People value fair treatment; it motivates them to keep the fairness, since everybody is happy, of course some of them would like to take everything for himself but since the others would not let him and afterwards they would isolate him and expulsion would follow.
Equity demands that one gets the same ratio of his inputs to his outcomes with the others around him, colleagues or not.







