Factors of attraction: filter theory

Question 1

What was the basis of Kerchoff and Davis’ filter theory ?

Answer 1

• Compared values and attitudes of long-term and short-term couples
• Defined a short-term relationship as 18 months or less

Question 2

What are the 3 main filters of the filter theory ?

Answer 2

• Social demography
• Attitudes
• Complementarity

Question 3

What are field of availables and field of desirables ?

Answer 3

Availables: Entire set of potential partners, all the people we could realistically form a relationship with

Desirables: Those who are desirables to us - use 3 filters that narrow this down

Question 4

What is the first filter of the filter theory ?

Answer 4

Social demography:
- Proximity
- Social class
- Education
- Religion

• The result of this filter is homogamy, this means that people form relationships with those who are socially and culturally similar
• This can lead to more meaningful interactions because two people will have more in common

Question 5

What is the second filter of the filter theory ?

Answer 5

• Similarity in attitudes
• Most important for short-term couples
• Attitudes = Work ethic, political views, views on marriage, ambition
• This encourages deeper communication as it aids self-disclosure
• Byrne = found that similarity is part of the ‘law of attraction’. Without similarity, a relationship will fizzle out

Question 6

What is the third filter of the filter theory ?

Answer 6

• Complementarity
• Important for long-term couples
• Ability to meet each others needs
• e.g. extrovert’s and introverts (bring the best out in each other)
• helps add depth to a relationship

Question 7

What are limitation of the filter theory ?

Answer 7

Temporal validity:
- Study originally took place in the 60’s
- Over time, social demographic has changed
- E.g, Proximity is less relevant because of the introduction of technology and dating apps
- People may not actually use the first filter if the factors are less relevant

Cause and effect:
- Anderson et al
- Longitudinal study
- Cohabiting partners became more similar after forming a relationship
- Emotional convergence
- Similarities may be an effect of a relationship not a cause of attraction

Individual differences:
- Makey and Makey
- In lesbian couples equality was more important than complementarity despite being in a long-term relationship

Question 8

What are strengths of the filter theory ?

Answer 8

Ecological validity:
- Keckkoff and Davies
- Longitudinal study
- assessed closeness over a period of 7 months
- Similarity in attitudes was most important for short-term relationships
- Complementarity was most important to long-term relationships
- Supports that these filters happen at different stages of a relationship

Taylor:
- People mainly marry within their own ethnic groups
- Often because of similarities in norms, values and religious beliefs
- This supports the idea of the social demographic theory