Filter theory

Question 1

Filter theory

Answer 1

Explanation of relationship formation
Different factors reduce available romantic partners to smaller pool
- All the romantic partners potentially available to us are reduced by a series of filters to a limited collection of people we would like to form a relationship with

Question 2

Field of availables

Answer 2

Entire set of potential romantic partners

Question 3

field of desirables

Answer 3

Reduced number after partners

Question 4

Social demography

Answer 4

Includes physical proximity, social class, ethnic group, age and educational level
- Leads to homogamy - forming relationships with people who are socially and culturally similar to ourselves

Question 5

Similarity in attitudes

Answer 5

important - especially early in a relationship when such similarities encourage deeper self-disclosures

Question 6

Kerckhoff and Davis

Answer 6

Similarity of attitudes important to develop romantic relationships - only couples less than 18 months - encourages greater and deeper communication and promotes self-disclosure

Question 7

Byrne

Answer 7

Consistent findings that similarity causes attraction - law of attraction

Question 8

Complementary

Answer 8

Meeting each other’s needs becomes more important later in the relationship

Kerckoff And David - Need for complementarity more important for long-term couples - adds depth to relationship

Question 9

Research support

Answer 9

• Strength from Kerckhoff and Davis
• Longitudinal study - both partners in dating couples completed questionnaires to assess two main factors - similarity of values and complementarity
• Closeness measures by questionnaire seven months later
• Closeness associated with similarity of values for couples less then 18 months
• Complementarity predicted closeness for longer relationships

Question 10

Counterpoint

Answer 10

• Levinger
• Studies failed to replicate findings
• 18 month cut off to distinguish between short and long term
• Filter theory is undermined by the lack of validity of its evidence base

Question 11

Problem with complementarity

Answer 11

• Limitation
• Markey and Markey - 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
• Similarity of needs rather than complementarity may be associated with long-term satisfaction

Question 12

Actual versus perceived similarity

Answer 12

• Limitation
• Actual similarity matters less in a relationship
• Montoya et al - meta-analysis - actual similarity affected attraction only in short-term lab interactions
• Real-world relationship - perceived similarity was stronger predictor
• Perceived similarity may be an effect of attraction and not cause

Question 13

Social change

Answer 13

• Demographic factors reduce field of availables - homogamy
• Role of filters change over time - online dating and apps - location not a big factor
• Social changes have led to relationships that were less common 30 years ago