BALANCE THEORY

Summary:

Balance Theory is a psychological theory proposed by Fritz Heider in 1946, which suggests that individuals are motivated to maintain a state of cognitive balance, or consistency, within their social networks. According to Heider, people naturally seek harmony and positive relationships in their social interactions, and they strive to maintain consistency in their attitudes and beliefs. The theory centers on the idea that relationships between people (P), objects (O), and other people (O’) can be balanced or unbalanced depending on the nature of the sentiments expressed.

In a balanced state, all relationships within a triad (a group of three elements: person P, another person O, and an object O’) are positive or all are negative. In contrast, an unbalanced state occurs when there is a discrepancy in the attitudes or beliefs held toward the individuals or objects in question. The motivation to reduce imbalance drives individuals to adjust their feelings or actions so that they return to a balanced state.

The theory is based on the P-O-X (Person-Other-Object) model, which represents a relationship triad:

• P is the person (the individual whose attitudes and behaviors are being considered).
• O is another person, group, or entity with which the first person has a relationship.
• X is an object, idea, or issue that the person feels some way about.

The relationships among these elements can be described as positive or negative:

• Positive relationships are when the person feels positively about the other (e.g., a friendship) or the object (e.g., a hobby they enjoy).
• Negative relationships are when the person feels negatively (e.g., they dislike someone or oppose a certain idea).

The balance is achieved when the overall structure of the triad is consistent—meaning if two elements are positively related, the third one must also be positively related to maintain balance. Conversely, if two elements are negatively related, the third should also be negatively related.

For example, in a triad involving a person (P), their friend (O), and an object or idea (X), if P likes X, O likes X, but P and O dislike each other, the situation is unbalanced. This imbalance creates a psychological tension that motivates the person to adjust their attitudes or relationships to restore balance.

Balance theory has been widely applied in various domains, including interpersonal relationships, group dynamics, and advertising. It suggests that people are motivated to avoid cognitive dissonance by altering attitudes or behaviors to restore balance when tensions arise within their social networks.

For example, if an individual (P) dislikes a political party (X) but a close friend (O) strongly supports that party, the person may experience discomfort due to the unbalanced state. To restore balance, they might change their attitude toward the party (X) to align with their friend’s views or distance themselves from the friend.

In addition, the theory has been used to explain phenomena in marketing, where advertisers try to create positive associations between their products and influential figures (O). For instance, if a celebrity (O) endorses a brand (X), consumers (P) who like the celebrity will be more likely to adopt favorable attitudes toward the brand, thereby achieving a balance in their cognitive framework.

An Application:

In the context of war games (whether military simulations, strategic board games, or video games), Balance Theory can provide valuable insights into the dynamics between opposing sides, alliances, and the players’ psychological motivations. War games often involve strategic decision-making, alliances, and the management of conflicts. According to Balance Theory, players and factions within the game strive to maintain harmony in their social relations (or at least, in their strategic relationships) to reduce psychological tension and achieve desired outcomes.

In war games, players typically form alliances to achieve common goals or to resist stronger opponents. According to Balance Theory, alliances are formed when the relationships between players (P) and their allies (O) are positively structured. For example, if Player A (P) and Player B (O) both have a mutual adversary (X), their relationship may be positively aligned because both players share the common goal of defeating the opponent.

In a balanced state, the alliance between Player A and Player B strengthens their commitment to the goal (X). However, if Player A and Player B begin to distrust each other or if their mutual adversary (X) becomes weaker, the balance can shift. This imbalance creates psychological tension within the alliance, which could motivate either player to change their attitudes toward the other or betray the alliance in favor of individual interests. Understanding this balance can be crucial in predicting how alliances evolve or dissolve in strategic games.

In more complex war games, players may manipulate balance by shifting allegiances or changing their strategies to create psychological harmony. If a player (P) finds themselves in an unbalanced situation, such as having a poor relationship with an ally (O) due to conflicting goals (X), they may change their approach to restore balance. For example, Player A (P) might attempt to negotiate peace with an opponent (X) to avoid the stress caused by ongoing conflict, thereby creating a new balanced triad.

In this way, players may alter their behavior—either by shifting allegiances or adjusting their attitudes toward other players or objectives—to restore a sense of balance and reduce the cognitive dissonance they experience. For example, if Player A and Player B (O) are at war with Player C (X), but Player A is in a better strategic position than Player B, they may use this advantage to coerce Player B into a strategic alliance or surrender to restore balance within the game’s social structure.

War games, particularly those that simulate real-world military conflicts, offer a microcosm of balance theory in action. Nations or factions within these games may form temporary alliances (e.g., through diplomacy) that represent strategic decisions meant to reduce tension and enhance their chances of survival or victory. These alliances are often fragile and may be adjusted as the game progresses, reflecting the inherent instability of alliances in real-life conflicts.

For example, in a game simulating a world war scenario, multiple nations (players) may form coalitions (positive triads) to confront a common enemy (X). If one of the allies becomes too powerful, it can create an imbalance, leading to a shift in alliances or a betrayal of a previous agreement. As with real-world international relations, balance theory can explain why alliances shift during times of conflict. Players might alter their attitudes or relationships with other factions to maintain a sense of control and harmony, even if it means abandoning previous alliances.

This theory helps game developers and players alike understand the underlying dynamics of conflict and cooperation in competitive scenarios, offering insights into how participants manage power, alliances, and their perceptions of others to achieve victory.

Can you think of some ways balance theory could help you managing relationships at work, school or university?

Key References

Heider, Fritz (1958). The Psychology of Interpersonal Relations. John Wiley & Sons.

This foundational work discusses Balance Theory in the context of how people strive for balance in their social relations.

Newcomb, T. M. (1953). The acquaintance process. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.

This book applies Balance Theory to social relationships, providing empirical evidence and applications of the theory in understanding interpersonal dynamics and group behaviour.

Brehm, J. W., & Kassin, S. M. (1993). Social psychology (3rd ed.). Houghton Mifflin.

This textbook offers a comprehensive overview of social psychological theories, including Balance Theory, and explores its application in various areas such as attitude formation, persuasion, and social influence.