Factors Affecting Attraction - FILTER THEORY

Question 1

What is Filter theory

Answer 1

• Field of availables –> pool of potential partners accessible to us.
• Field of desirables –> through the 3 filters.
• Homogamy –> likly to form a relationship with someone who is socially and culturally similar

Question 2

Who devised filter theory?

Answer 2

Kerchoff & Davis (1962)

Question 3

How did Kerchoff & Davis (1962) devise filter theory?

Answer 3

• Students in relationship for <18 (ST) and >18 (LT) months.
• Self-report / questionnaires
• Attitude similarity most important for ST.
• Complementing eachother most important for LT.

Question 4

What are the 3 stages of filtering?

Answer 4

Social Demographics
Similarity
Complementarity of needs

Question 5

What is social filtering (level 1)?

Answer 5

• We only meet a small fraction of people in our area
• Similar social class, education level, maybe even ethnicity

Question 6

What is similarity in attitudes (level 2)?

Answer 6

• Only important for couples been together less than 18 months.
• A need for partners in the earlier stages to agree over basic values.
• Bryne –> similarity = law of attraction. If it doesn’t exist, relationship likely to fizzle out

Question 7

What is complementarity of needs (level 3)?

Answer 7

• Ability of romantic partners to meet each others needs.
• Partners complement each other when they have traits the other lacks.
• K&D found this important in relationships over 18 months.
• Attractive as gives partners the feeling that they form a whole.

Question 8

Evaluation points for filter theory:

Answer 8

+ Supporting research –> Winch (key factors change over time - same results as K&D)

• Lack of replication of findings
• Deterministic (doesn’t consider choice)
• Reductionist (ignores PA & SD)