Factors Affecting Attraction - Filter Theory (relationships) Flashcards
What is filter theory?
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
What is the first filter?
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
What is the second filter?
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
What is the third filter?
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