Factors Affecting Attraction - Filter Theory (relationships)

Question 1

What is filter theory?

Answer 1

Kerckhoff and Davis, compared attitudes/personalities of student couples in short + long term relationships

Created to explain how relationships develop + all have a field of availables which are narrowed down to potential field of desirables

Question 2

What is the first filter?

Answer 2

Social Demography- this includes proximity, social class, level of education, ethnic group, religion, etc.

You are more likely to meet individuals who are more accessible, e.g closer proximity or similar social class

This can then lead to homogamy = more likely to from relationships with someone who is socially or culturally similar

Question 3

What is the second filter?

Answer 3

Similarity of Attitudes- this is important in the development of relationships, but only for those who have been together for less than 18 months as it helps promote deeper and greater communication (self disclosure)

Byrne also suggests that similarity within a relationship is attractive

Question 4

What is the third filter?

Answer 4

Complementarity- the ability to meet each others needs, e.g this could be through having a trait that the other lacks

Suggested to be of more importance in long term relationships + is attractive as it gives partners the feelings that together they form a whole = adding depth to the relationship

Question 5

Research into filter theory:

Answer 5

Kerckhoff and Davis:
Longitudinal - 94 couples, questionnaires assessing attitudes and values and complimentary needs.

Initially similarity of attitudes appeared related to partner closeness.
Found short term relationships = similarity was more important
Long term relationships = complimentary was more important

Supporting filter theory as it shows how couples go through a series of filters as relationship progresses

Question 6

Evaluations

Answer 6

+ Research Support - Winch, found similarity of attitudes, personality and interest = typical at early stages of relationship, echoing matching hypothesis. Complementary needs = more important for partners married for several years -> face validity

• Failure to replicate, Levinger, suggested this to be due to social changes and also being unable to measure depth of relationship based on the length = filter theory assumes that relationships longer than 18 months -> deeper and more committed
• Causation, Anderson et al found cohabiting partners became more similar in emotional responses overtime (emotional convergence), opposing filter theory which suggests the beginning of a relationship relies on similarity
• Temporal Validity, online dating reduced the importance of some social + demographic variables = greater likelihood of pursing partners outside of social demographic