Relationships - 2. Factors Affecting Attraction in Romantic Relationships: 3. Filter Theory Flashcards
Who developed the filter theory and when?
Kerckhoff and Davis (1962)
What is the filter theory based on?
Comparisons of attitudes and personalities of student couples in short term (less than 18 months) and long term relationships
How many stages are there in the filter theory and what are they?
- Social demography
- Similarity in attitudes
- Complementarity
What stage(s) is most crucial for short-term relationships and what stage(s) is most crucial for long-term relationships?
Social demography and similarity in attitudes are crucial to short-term relationships
Complementarity is most important for long-term relationships
What does social demography refer to?
Refers to many factors that influence the chance of potential partners meeting each other
Social demographic factors
Proximity
Social class
Level of education
Religion/ethnicity
How is proximity a crucial social demographic factor to the chance of finding a romantic partner?
We are more likely to meet people we see fit as partners that are within close proximity to us
Homogamy (social demography)
You are more likely to form a relationship with someone who is culturally or socially similar
How may the features of social demography lack in temporal validiy?
The theory was made in 1962. Now there are changing social norms, secularisation and advances in technology which mean that factors such as proximity and religion/ethnicity may no longer apply
Similarity in attitudes
Individuals will look for partners with similar psychological factors and shared beliefs/attitudes/interests
Complementarity
Concerns the ability of partners to meet each others needs.
Partners will complement one another when they have traits that their significant other lacks
At a later stage in relationships, opposites attract
Gives individuals the feeling that when they are together they make a whole, adding depth to a relationship
Limitation of the filter theory: population validity
Research is only carried out on students and student relationships may not represent relationships of older couples (E.g. the filter theory may not be used as people get older and more ‘desperate’ to find a partner)
Limitation of the filter theory: temporal validity
Research being carried out in 1962 makes us question the temporal validity
Limitation of the filter theory: cultural differences
Filtering doesn’t matter for arranged marriages
Limitation of the filter theory: results of future studies
Results of future studies have failed to replicate the original findings that formed filter theory
