L4 - Filter Theory

Question 1

Why do we use filtering?

Answer 1

• Reduce field of available partners to desirable partners
• We engage in 3 levels of filtering: social demography, similarity in attitude, complementarity in needs
• We are attracted to those who pass through our filters

Question 2

What types of things do we screen in the first filter?

Answer 2

• Social demography
• Things like age, sex, education, social background
• We are more attracted to people from similar backgrounds to ours

Question 3

What are the second and third filters?

Answer 3

• We choose those who have similar attitudes to ours - similarity in attitude
• In longer term, we choose those who complement our own traits (complementarity of needs)

Question 4

Evaluation (+)

Answer 4

+ 85% of Americans who got married in 2008 had married someone from their own ethnic group, supporting social demography filter
+ A psychologist found that perceived attitude similarity can predict attraction more strongly than actual attitude similarity. Participants had to make quick decisions about attraction in a speed dating event. He measured actual/perceived similarity of attitudes using a questionnaire and found Perceived similarity predicted romantic liking more than actual similarity

Question 5

Evaluation (-)

Answer 5

• Using 330 couples, there was no evidence that similarity of attitudes or complementarity of needs was important when looking at how permanent the relationship was
• Criticised as suggests that people are attracted because of similar social demography. A longitudinal study of cohabiting partners showed that their attitudes and emotional responses became more similar. This is called emotional convergence
• Online dating does not support filter theory in that it doesn’t show how relationships form/progress. We meet people who are not in our social demographic