A standard used by people to gauge their satisfaction with a relationship based on their previous expectations and personal needs. This concept reflects the degree to which a person expects the reward and benefit that he should receive in exchange for the effort expended within the relationship, and the degree to which the relationship meets his expectations. A frame of reference in which a person evaluates current relationships and determines whether they meet their expectations and personal values, so that their sense of satisfaction or dissatisfaction depends on the difference between the reward actually received and the benefits they expected or believed to be fair in the light of their previous experiences or socio-cultural norms.