Factors effecting attraction: Filter Theory Flashcards
What is the filter theory?
Kerckhoff and Davis (1962)- An explanation for relationship formation. It states that a series of different factors progressively reduces the range of available romantic partners to a much smaller pool of possibilities.
- social demography,
- similarity in attitudes
- complementarity.
Factors act as features to narrow down our partner choice to field of desirables
What is social demography (1st level)?
Geographical location, social class, level of education, ethnic group and religion. You are more likely to meet people who share several demographic characteristics. A partner who is too different is discounted, outcome of this filtering is homogamy (more likely to form relationship with someone socially or culturally similar).
What is similarity in attitudes (2nd level)?
Partners will often share important beliefs and values, partly because the field of availables has already been narrowed by the first filter to those who have significant cultural and social values in common. Kerckhoff and Davis found that similarity of attitudes was important to the development of romantic relationships, but only for couples who had been together less than 18 months. There is a need for partners in the early stage of a relationship to agree over basic values. If no similarity in attitudes relationship will fizzle out.
What is complementarity (3rd level)?
The ability of a romantic partner to meet each others needs. Two partners complement each other when they have traits the other lacks. Like making the other laugh. K + D found that the need for complementarity was more important for long term couples. It is attractive as it gives the feeling that they form a whole.
What is brief AO3 for filter theory?
Support from K + D’s original study BUT, Levinger said studies have struggled to replicate the original findings
Complementarity may not be central to all LT relationships
Actual similarity matters a lot less in a relationship than what they perceive
What are strengths of filter theory?
Kerckhoff and Davis’s original longitudinal study in which partners in dating couples completed questionnaires to assess similarity of attitudes/ values and complementarity of needs. Relationships closeness was measured by another questionnaire seven months later. Closeness was associated by similarity of values but only those who had been together less than 18 months. Complementarity of needs predicted closeness in longer relationships.
BUT, Levinger pointed out many studies failed to replicate these findings. He put this down to social change also to problems in defining depth of a relationship. 18-month cut off to distinguish short and long term relationships, assumed those together longer were more committed. Questionable assumption undermined by lack of validity of its evidence base.
What are weaknesses of filter theory?
Complementarity may not be central to all longer term relationships. A prediction of this theory is that in the most satisfying relationships partners are complementary. Markey and Markey found lesbian couples of equal dominance were the most satisfied. Their sample of couples had been romantically involved for a mean time of more than 4 1/2 years. This suggests similarity of needs rather than complementarity may be associated with long term satisfaction.
Actual similarity matters less in a relationship than perceived similarity. Meta analysis by Montoya et al found that actual similarity affected attraction only in very short-term lab based interactions. In real world relationships perceived similarity was a stronger prediction of attraction. Perceived similarity may be an effect of attraction and not a cause, which is not predicted by the filter model.
