filter theory A01 Flashcards
who developed the filter theory?
Kerckhoff and Davis
define filter theory
where we choose romantic partners based on a series of filters to narrow down our “field of availables” from which we might make our choice
what are the 3 main filters that is proposed?
Social demography, Similarity in attitudes and complementarity of needs
in the early stages of a relationship what is the first filter?
social demography
give two examples of social demography?
age and class
how does social demography apply to attraction in relationships?
we feel more similar and at ease to them as we have more in common and so find them more attractive.
what is the second filter?
Similarity in attitudes
what is similarity in attitudes?
individuals psychological characteristics agreeing with eachother on morals, attitudes and values.
what is the best predictor filter of the relationship becoming stable?
Similarity in attitudes
what is the final filter?
Complementarity of needs
what does the final filter involve?
an assessment of the complementarity of needs
who conducted a key study?
Kerckhoff and Davis
what did they find in the study?
that the final filter was more important for long term relationships and similarity in attitudes was more important in shorter term relationships
describe their procedure
94 dating couples has to complete two questionnaires on similarity in attitudes and complementarity of needs and then did it again seven months later, to assess how close they felt to their partner then to compare how they felt at the beginning of the study. They believed this would indicate progress towards permanence of the relationship
