Factors Affecting Attraction: Filter Theory

Question 1

Filter theory

Answer 1

Explanation of relationship formation
States that a series of different factors progressively reduces the range of available romantic partners to a smaller pool of possibilities

Question 2

Key researchers

Answer 2

Kerckoff + Davis compared attitudes of student couples in short term + long term, relationships
Devised filter theory to explain how romantic relationships form/develop
3 main filters

Question 3

Social demography

Answer 3

1st filter
Wide range of factors including geographical location (proximity), social class, level of ed, ethnic group, religion
More likely to meet someone who is physically closer to you + shares several demographic characteristics
More attractive if similar demographic

Question 4

Similarity in attitudes

Answer 4

2nd level
Partners wil share important beliefs + values - because they have already been narrowed down to social demography
Only significant in partners who were together less than 18 months
Need for partners in the early stage of relationship to agree over basic values, the things that really matter to them

Encourages greeter, deeper communication + promotes self-disclosure
Bryne has described the consistent findings that similarity causes attraction as law of a

Question 5

Complementarity

Answer 5

3rd level filter
Ability of romantic partners being able to meet each others needs
2 partners complement each other when they have traits that the other person lacks
E.g one person might be funnier than other - making other laugh/one more dominant than other
K + d found that need for complementarity = long term
Opposites attract idea = flourish in relationship

Question 6

Limitation of sim of atts

Answer 6

Levinger et al
Failed to replicate k + d study using same procedures
No eveidence that either sim of a or complementarity of needs influenced progress
Study occurred 2 years later so levinegr suggested may have needed to adjust filter due to different time
Can’t account for this time

Question 7

Limitation of complementarity

Answer 7

Markey + markey
Found lesbian couples went against idea of complelmentarity + has equal dominance rather than one dominant and other submissive ‘cannot be generalised to all types of relations

Question 8

Support social demography

Answer 8

Festinger et al tracked relationship formation veteeen people living in apartment
Those who lived close were more likely to form relationship
Next door comparened to bottom of stairway

Question 9

Duck et al -

Answer 9

Suggests filtering process is important as allows people to make predictions about future interactions + so avoid investing in a relationship that wont work
Allow person to have aim and know what looking for and not waste time
Filtering stops people making wrong choice and then having to live with consequences