Interdependence theory is a social exchange theory according to which interpersonal interdependence—defined as “ the process by which interacting people influence one another’s experiences”—defines interpersonal relationships. The interdependence concept emphasizes how every living item in a natural system contributes to the balance and well-being of that system. This idea is demonstrated by the mutualistic association between wildflowers and bees. We believe that the most comprehensive theoretical framework for comprehending interdependence and social interaction is the interdependence theory, as developed by Thibaut and Kelley (1959; Kelley & Thibaut, 1978).
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Types Of Interdependence
Business owners can better comprehend how various departments and team members depend on one another’s success by having a solid understanding of task dependency. To design the most efficient procedures, leaders need to be aware of the different outcomes (both positive and negative) that can arise from their autonomous work.
1. Pooled Interdependence
The most transparent kind of interdependence is this one. Separately, the company unit contributes to the overall objective even though they separately do activities that are distinct from one another. Should a department falter, the project or objective as a whole may also suffer. Team members share the loose or unstructured responsibility for achieving the goal even while they are working individually.
Consider a scenario where a corporation decides to implement an unrestricted leave policy, provided that no one abuses it and it doesn’t affect the team’s capacity to meet deadlines. The new policy aims to boost employee happiness to grant more autonomy to the workers. However, if a team begins to perform worse than others, the policy is replaced with a more stringent one because one department did not apply it correctly. Everyone else could have to suffer if one team is unable to make the policy work.
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2. Sequential Interdependence
What the name implies is exactly sequential interdependence. It occurs when a team or department needs to complete a task before moving on to another; it’s comparable to the idea of an assembly line. Before a product is packed and transported, it must be completely assembled. A single step skipped throws the entire procedure off. An example of this kind of interdependence in current times would be a team that handles sales and marketing. To execute their work, the sales team requires qualified leads in their funnel.
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Advertising, direct mail, email, and social media outreach are all used by marketing teams to fill the sales funnel with quality leads that sales executives may follow up with. Profitable businesses are made feasible by this successive dependency. It is highly improbable that sales will occur if marketing fails to generate qualified lead generation.
3. Reciprocal Interdependence
A commonality unites reciprocal interdependence and sequential interdependence models: they both rely on the output or performance of one team to achieve their objectives. Conversely, mutual reliance is a two-way street. Because both departments or teams rely on one another, completing tasks and goals becomes a top priority for everybody involved. This workflow is circular. Let us envision what a software company’s cyclical workflow would entail.
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A fantastic product is created by an engineering and development team. Revenue is increased by the marketing team’s generation of quality leads and sales possibilities for the sales team. Customers receive excellent customer service and support from the onboarding and customer success teams. As the cycle continues, the company’s profitability increases. To grow the company, they can hire an increasing number of high-calibre employees. However, according to this concept, the process as a whole would fail if only one phase in the cycle failed.
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Importance of Theory of Interdependence
One intriguing idea in social psychology is the theory of interdependence, which emphasizes the basic interdependence that exists between people and their social settings. It resembles a complex web, in which every strand stands for a different person, and the threads that connect them represent the various ways in which we both impact and are influenced by one another. As we engage, communicate, and negotiate the complexity of social life, this network is dynamic and ever-changing. This is the reason this theory is so significant:
- It gives us the ability to effect good change: Realizing interdependence entails recognizing our ability to shape the social web. By acting with kindness, compassion, and a sense of shared responsibility, we can make the social environment more encouraging and supportive for everybody.
- It clarifies societal influence: This theory explains how our decisions, attitudes, and even our sense of self can be influenced by social norms, expectations, and even minute indications from other people. Our psychological landscape is shaped by the very fabric of our social surroundings; it’s not just about direct pressure.
- It contradicts the idea of the “lone wolf”: In the past, psychology frequently concentrated on personal characteristics and inner workings. Interdependence serves as a reminder that humans are social creatures. The people and circumstances in our immediate environment have a profound impact on our ideas, feelings, and behaviours.
- It promotes empathy and understanding: It makes us more aware of our interconnectedness and how other people’s needs and viewpoints affect us. Increased prosocial conduct, empathy, and collaboration may result from this. We understand that the social experience as a whole is impacted by our activities as well as ourselves.
The theory of interdependence has practical applications in addition to being a theoretical foundation. It can influence how we handle mental health treatments, social policy, and even dispute resolution. One thread at a time, we may create a stronger, more durable social fabric by accepting this interconnectedness.
Read More: Empathy vs Sympathy: Understanding the Difference
Summing Up
According to the interdependence hypothesis, which is a social exchange theory, interpersonal interactions are characterized by the reciprocal influence that people have on one another’s experiences and results. Put another way, we influence the people we deal with as well as ourselves through the decisions and behaviours we make in relationships. The theory of interdependence is non-deterministic. It doesn’t only state that people are dependent on the people in their lives. Individuals possess agency, allowing them to choose how they act in social situations. The principle of interdependence is not exclusive to romantic partnerships. It applies to many kinds of interactions, such as those in the workplace, family, and friendship domains.
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