Lesson 5 - Filter theory

Question 1

the filter theory

Answer 1

there are filtering factors at different stages of selecting a partner as people try to choose the ‘best fit’ partner for them

Question 2

what are the 3 main filters?

Answer 2

1) social demography
2) similarity on attitudes
3) complementary of needs

Question 3

social demography - filter

Answer 3

filter is based on social characteristics e.g. age, ethnicity, social background, geographical location + likelihood of meeting the person in the first place

Question 4

similarity in attitudes - filter

Answer 4

filter is based on psychological characteristics e.g. same attitudes, beliefs + values
= help predict stability
= find this out through self-disclosure

Question 5

complementary of needs - filter

Answer 5

filter is based on emotional characteristics:
e.g. people who have different needs that complement each other
= there needs to be mutual satisfaction + opposing needs met
= needs should be complementary + not similar

Question 6

ads of filter theory

Answer 6

• research support
• perceived attitude similarity

Question 7

disads of filter theory

Answer 7

• no replicability/ reliability
• online dating
• emotional convergence

Question 8

research support - ad

Answer 8

research conducted by Taylor (2010), found to support the filter theory:
- found that 85% of Americans who got married in 2008 had married someone from their own ethnic group = supporting the social demographic idea = similar to them + background

Question 9

perceived attitude - ad

Answer 9

more research conducted by Hoyle (1993) supports the filter theory when looking at the importance of similar attitudes + sharing common values for attraction
= found that perceived attitude similarity can predict attraction more strongly than actual attitude similarity
= tested this hypothesis during a speed dating event where parts had to make quick decisions about attraction
= measured actual + perceived similar attitudes using a questionnaire
= found that perceived similarity predicted romantic liking more than actual similarity

Question 10

no replicability/ reliability - disad

Answer 10

• research conducted found that many studies failed to replicate the findings from filter theory
  -psych conduced research using 330 couples
  = found no evidence that similarity of attitudes or complementary of needs were important
• also an issue on deciding when a short term relationship becomes long term
• psychs stated that at 18 months a relationship becomes long term = but has been disputed

Question 11

online dating - disad

Answer 11

• research using online dating
  = shows lack of support for filter theory
• might not be an accurate way to see how relationships progress + form
• the internet = reduction is social demographic variables when we meet someone
  = easier to meet up w/ someone who is far away/ have different ethnicity etc.. compared to past

Question 12

emotional convergence - disad

Answer 12

• filter theory has been criticised
• suggests that people are attracted to each other due to similar demography + social characteristics
• psych contradicted filter theory
  = found that cohabiting partners became more similar (attitude + emotional response)
  = increased attraction
• at the start of the relationship = disimilar attitudes
  = emotional convergence