Factors Effecting Attraction In Relationships- Filter Theory

Question 1

Three factors that affect physical attraction

Answer 1

-scoial demogrpahy
-similarity in attitudes
-complimentary

Question 2

Study - Kerkhoff and Davis

Answer 2

Compared attitudes and personalities of students in short-term (lower than 18 months) and long-term relationships.
-devised the filter theory to explain how these relationships are formed
-suggets when we meet someone we go through 3 stages

Question 3

Stage 1- social demography

Answer 3

-this is where we compare our social demography to theirs eg proximity, class, age, ethnicity.
-this is where you narrow potential partners based on social groups
-field of available - narrowing down partners available to you

Homogamy- we’re more likely to form a relationship with someone who is socially or culturally similar to us.

Question 4

Stage 2- similarities in attitudes

Answer 4

People look for partners with similar beliefs and psychological factors.
-Pick from the field of desirables.
-important in short-term relationships
>Byrne- law of attraction
-presence and absence of similarities are discovered through self-disclosure. If they have little in common the relationship won’t develop, if they have a lot in common it will lead to greater feelings of intimacy.

Question 5

Stage three- complimentary

Answer 5

The ability of partners to meet each other’s needs
–opposites attract- one partner has traits the other lacks
This is more important in long-term relationships
-make each other feel whole when together.

Question 6

Kerkhoff and Davis found

Answer 6

That similarity in attitudes was important for short-term relationships and complimentary was important in long-term relationships

Question 7

Evaluation negatives

Answer 7

❌-lacks temporal validity (1960s) - proximity no longer as big of a factor in relationships due to technology and improved travel allowing people to stay in touch.
❌- cultural bias- disregards people who can’t choose their partners eg arranged marriages in collectivist cultures.
❌- can’t generlaise to homosexual couples as in 1960 it was illegal to be gay
❌- emotional convergence - romantic partners believes and attitudes become more csimilar overtime so stage two isn’t as detrimental to a relationship as filter theory suggest and contradicts stage three that opposites attract

Question 8

Positves of filter theory

Answer 8

✅- face validity because all relationships through these stages at some point
✅-supports self-disclosure (the onion theory) that the more high-risk info you give to each other the deeper and more intimate the relationship.