Factors affecting atttraction: FILTER THEORY

Question 1

Filter theory

Answer 1

Kerckohoff and Davis (1962)
* there are field availables (potential partners) from which we select a field of desirables
* there are three filters for this
1. Social demograhy
2. Similarity in attitudes
3. Complementarity

Question 2

Social demography

Answer 2

• first level of filter
• geographical location (proximity), social class, level of education, ethnicity, religion etc
• we are more likely to enter a relationship with a partner who is socially and culturally similar because most of us find that a shared demographic similarites are attractive
• anyone who is too different is not a potential partner and is filtered out before the next stage

Question 3

Similarity in attitudes

Answer 3

• second level of filter
• important to the development of romantic relationships for couples who have been together for less than 18 months
• theres a need for partners in early stages of a relationship to agree over basic values
• encourages greater communication and promotes self-disclosure

Question 4

Complentarity

Answer 4

• third level of filter
• important for the development of long term relationships
• two partners complement each other when they have traits that the other lacks. For example, one may like to be dominant and the other wants to be led
• feature gives partners feeling that together they form a whole

Question 5

Evaluation

Answer 5

+ Supportive evidence
- Critiques for other studies
- Filter 2 is more important than filter 3
- Couples adopt each others values

Question 6

+ Supportive evidence

Answer 6

Kerchoff and Davis
* conducted a longitudinal study where couples completed a questionnaire to assess 2 main factors (filter 2 and 3)
* 7 months later, couples completed another questionnaire to measure relationship closeness
* study found that closeness was associated with similarity of values for couples who had been dating for less than 18 months
* closeness was associated with complementarity of needs for longer relationships, supporting and providing evidence for predictions of the theory

Question 7

- Critiques from other studies

Answer 7

• other studies have failed to find similar results to the study above
• this may be because there are problems with choosing 18 months as a cut off point to distinguish between short term and long term relationships
• this is subjective as there’s an assumption that relationships that are longer than 18 months are more meaningful and associated with stronger committment
• this therefore questions and undermines the valiidty of its evidence base

Question 8

- Filter 2 is more important than filter 1

Answer 8

Markey and Markey (2013)
* found that lesbian couples of equal dominance in the relationship rated more
* couples had been in a relationship for longer than 4 and 1/2 years
* opposes filter theory and suggests similarity of values rather than complemenatrity may be associated with long term satisfaction in some couples

Question 9

- Couples adopt each others values

Answer 9

Anderson et al (2003)
* found that cohabitating couples experienced emotional convergence becoming more and more similar over time
* attitude alignment also takes place (their attitudes change to become more similar to each other’s)
* evidence suggests that similarties are the effect of having a relationship, rather than the cause, as suggested by filter theory

Question 10

+ Support for filter 1

Answer 10

Gruber -Baldini et al (1995)
* found that couples who shared more similarities such as education level, at the start of a relationship are more likely to be together 20 years later

Question 11

- Filters are outdated

Answer 11

some argue that the role of filters have changed over time
* for example, in relation to the 1st filter, location no longer limits partner choice in online dating apps and due to social changes there are now more relationships between partners of different ethnic backgrounds