L4 - Filter Theory Flashcards
what did KERCHOFF and DAVID propose?
KERCHOFF and DAVID proposed we USE FILTERING to REDUCE the FIELD OF AVAILABLE PARTNERS DOWN TO a FIELD OF DESIRABLE PARTNERS
When we meet a POTENTIAL PARTNER, we ENGAGE in THREE LEVELS OF FILTERING: SOCIAL DEMOGRAPHY, SIMILARITY IN ATTITUDE and COMPLEMENTARITY OF NEEDS.
We TEND TO BE ATTRACTED to those who PASS THROUGH this SERIES OF FILTERS
what is the FIRST FILTER that we use when meeting people?
From the OUTSET, we SCREEN OUT PEOPLE based on their SOCIAL DEMOGRAPHY.
This contains things like their AGE, SEX, EDUCATION, SOCIAL BACKGROUND etc.
We are MORE ATTRACTED to people from SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS TO OUR OWN
what FILTERS do we tend to apply after the SOCIAL DEMOGRAPHY FILTER?
Then we choose people who have SIMILAR ATTITUDES to our own (SIMILARITY IN ATTITUDE)
what FILTERS do we use in the LONG TERM to choose our partners?
In the LONGER TERM, we choose people who COMPLEMENT OUR OUR OWN TRAITS (COMPLEMENTARITY OF NEEDS)
+ TAYLOR (EVALUATION OF FILTER THEORY)
+ Research conducted by TAYLOR found EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT FILTER THEORY
He found that 85& OF AMERICANS who got MARRIED IN 2008 HAD MARRIED SOMEONE FROM THEIR OWN ETHNIC GROUP, supporting the SOCIAL DEMOGRAPHY part of FILTER THEORY
Individuals seem to choose partners that are SIMILAR TO THEM and have a SIMILAR BACKGROUND TO THEM
+ HOYLE (EVALUATION OF FILTER THEORY)
+ Research conducted by HOYLE SUPPORTS THE FILTER THEORY when looking at the IMPORTANCE of ATTITUDE SIMILARITY and SHARING COMMON VALUES for ATTRACTION.
HOYLE found that PERCEIVED ATTITUDE SIMILARITY can PREDICT ATTRACTION MORE STRONGLY than ACTUAL ATTITUDE SIMILARITY.
TIDWELL TESTED THIS HYPOTHESIS during a SPEED DATING EVENT whereby pps had to make QUICK DECISIONS about attraction. He MEASURED ACTUAL and PERCEIVED SIMILARITY OF ATTITUDES using a QUESTIONNAIRE and found that PERCEIVED ATTITUDE SIMILARITY PREDICTED ATTRACTION MORE THAN ACTUAL SIMILARITY
- LEVINGER (EVALUATION OF FILTER THEORY)
- LEVINGER conducted research using 330 COUPLES and found NO EVIDENCE that SIMILARITY OF ATTITUDES or COMPLEMENTARITY OF NEEDS was important when LOOKING AT HOW PERMANENT THE RELATIONSHIP WAS
- EMOTIONAL CONVERGENCE (EVALUATION OF FILTER THEORY)
- FILTER THEORY has been CRITICISED because it suggests that people are attracted to each other BECAUSE THEY HAVE SIMILAR SOCIAL DEMOGRAPHY.
ANDERSON found from his LONGITUDINAL STUDY of COHABITING PARTNERS that they BECAME MORE SIMILAR in terms of their ATTITUDES and EMOTIONAL RESPONSES OVER TIME, which INCREASED ATTRACTION
At the START of their relationship, their ATTITUDES WERE NOT SO SIMILAR. This is called EMOTIONAL CONVERGENCE
- ONLINE DATING (EVALUATION OF FILTER THEORY)
- RESEARCH using ONLINE DATING has shown a LACK OF SUPPORT for FILTER THEORY in that it MIGHT NOT BE AN ACCURATE WAY to see how RELATIONSHIPS PROGRESS and FORM.
The INTERNET has meant that there is a REDUCTION in SOCIAL DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES WHEN WE MEET SOMEONE, and its now EASIER TO MEET PEOPLE who LIVE FAR AWAY, or have a DIFFERENT ETHNICITY, SOCIAL CLASS or BACKGROUND
We might meet people who are OUTSIDE OF OUR DEMOGRAPHIC LIMITS, and this is VERY APPARENT and MORE LIKELY NOW, COMPARED TO THE PAST
