filter theory

Question 1

filter theory AO1

Answer 1

• We all have a huge ‘field of availables’ from which to choose a romantic partner, but we apply THREE ‘filters’ to our search which narrow down our potential list to a ‘field of desirables’
• Social demography
• Similarity in Attitudes
• Complementarity of needs

Question 2

social demography

Answer 2

• Geographical location, social class, level of education, ethnicity, religion etc
• Our choices are usually constrained by social mobility (more likely to go out with someone from Hitchin than Aberdeen because distance makes things difficult)
• Therefore the key benefit of proximity is ACCESSIBILITY
• Our choices are further constrained by social circumstances
• We may filter out people of a certain religion, social class, level of education because they would be too ‘different to us’
• The outcome of all this filtering is ‘homogamy’ whereby you form a relationship with someone who is socially and culturally similar
• It is easier to find things in common with these people - making them more ‘attractive’

Question 3

similarity in attitudes

Answer 3

• Partners often share important beliefs and values
• In the first 18 months of a relationship it is important to establish that both partners have the same attitudes, beliefs and values
• This lays a foundation for a successful future and promotes self-disclosure
• When similarities in values are not shared by both partners, relationships are likely to break down

Question 4

Complementarity of needs

Answer 4

• This concerns the ability of each partner to meet the other’s needs
• Two partners complement each other when they have traits that the other lacks
• Patience vs impatience. Nurturing vs being nurtured. Organised vs passive → opposites complement each other
• Complementarity is key in the success of the relationship enduring

Question 5

AO3 - major weakness (single study)

Answer 5

• One major weakness in this theory and its application is that it was derived from a single study into long (over 18 months) and short term (under 18 months) student relationships
• This is a methodological flaw which undermines the validity of the theory. The authors assume that students in relationships over 18 months are more committed and had a deeper relationship
• This is not objective and has not been replicated experimentally making it incredible unscientific

Question 6

AO3 - Further weakness (cause and effect)

Answer 6

• The direction of cause and effect is a huge issue in this theory, which assumes that we choose people who already have similar attitudes and beliefs to us, resulting in a successful relationship
• Research has shown that actually when partners are in committed relationships they BECOME more similar, and DEVELOP shared attitudes and beliefs as a RESULT of their relationship.

Question 7

AO3 - lack of validity

Answer 7

• Online dating has transformed the formation of relationships
• This theory was produced in 1962, and the authors would have been blown away had they realised that you could literally FILTER out any undesirable characteristics at the click of a mouse on online dating sites
• Online dating has reduced the importance of certain demographic variables, making it possible to communicate and bond with people who would have previously not have been in the “field of availables”, let alone, “desirables”.
• Online profiles allow us to judge all three levels of the theory before we have even met this potential partner in person, and render any time-line implicit in the theory useless.

Question 8

A03- +VE- Theoretical Value

Answer 8

• Psychologists argue that the real value in this filtering process is the fact that it stops people wasting time getting into relationships that will ultimately break down, so that they can invest in a relationship that will have a positive outcome. → links with evolutionary theory - e.g. have children
• Filtering stops people making the wrong choice and having to live with the consequences.

Question 9

A03- Contradictory Evidence -ve

Answer 9

• There is contradictory evidence for the third filter of ‘complementarity of needs’
• Dijkstra and Barelds (2008) found that the 760 pps they surveyed were more concerned with having a partner with the SAME personality characteristics/needs as them, not complementary ones, as predicted by the theory.