Filter Theory

Question 1

Filter 1: social demography

Answer 1

Factors which influence the chance of potential partners meeting each other in the first place: Age, Location, Ethnicity, Religion.

Question 2

Filter 2: similarity in attitudes

Answer 2

Made more likely by 1st filter narrowing ‘field of availables’. Important in the early stages of the relationship to agree over basic values. Promotes self-disclosure.

Question 3

Filter 3:

Answer 3

Harmoniousness of needs – two partners complement each other when they have traits that the other lacks. Important for long-term couples.

Question 4

• P - Lack of research to support the idea of complementarity of needs

Answer 4

E - A study of 760 college educated singles expressed a liking for a complementary partner for a long-term relationship.
E - However, there were strong correlations between their own and their ideal partner’s personality.
L - This suggests that similarity in attractiveness is more prevalent than complementarity of needs.

Question 5

+ P - Research support

Answer 5

E - Kerckhoff and David created a questionnaire in a longitudinal study.
E - Found that couples who had been together less that 18 months similarity was related to partner closeness whereas those relationships lasting over 18 months ranked complementarity of needs as predictive of how close a person felt to their partner.
L - This shows the stages of the filter theory and offers a potential time zone.

Question 6

• P - Study is hard to replicate

Answer 6

E - A psychologist used the same procedure.
E - Found no evidence and similarity and complementarity of needs influenced progress in a relationship neither did they find a link between length of the relationship and the variables laid down in filter theory.
L - This shows that the study may not be applicable to all relationships.