relationships- factors affecting attraction: filter theory

Question 1

filter theory

Answer 1

Kerckhoff and Davis (1962) explain attraction in terms of attitudes and personalities
-first consider the field of availables (pool of potential partners who are accessible to us)
-from this we select field of desirables via three filters

Question 2

first filter

Answer 2

-social demography
-social demographics include geographical location and social class
-more likely to gave meaningful encounters w people who are physically close and share other features w yourself (e.g. same social class)
-anyone who is too ‘different’ (too far away, too m/c) is not a potential partner and is ‘filtered out’- outcome is homogamy (partner similar to u, shares ur background)

Question 3

second filter: similarity in attitudes- shared beliefs and values

Answer 3

-important for couples together less than 18 months
-early stages of a relationship agreeing on basic values promotes better communication and S-D

Question 4

second filter: similarity in attitudes- law of attraction

Answer 4

-Byrne (1997) found similarity in attitudes causes mutual attraction
-where such similarity does not exist it is found that often the relationship fades after only a few dates

Question 5

third filter: complementarity- partners meet each other’s needs

Answer 5

-Partners complement each other when they have traits that the other lacks.
-e.g. one partner may enjoy making the other laugh, and in turn this partner enjoys being made to laugh.

Question 6

third filter: complementarity- important in L/T stages of relationship

Answer 6

-complementarity thought to give the romantic partners a feeling of togetherness and ‘making a whole’
-e.g. partners will feel like they are meeting each other’s needs if one likes caring and the other enjoys being cared for (‘opposites attract’)

Question 7

ao3 of filter theory: support from Kerckhoff and Davis’s original study

Answer 7

-dating couples completed questionnaires to measure similarity of attitudes/values, complementarity of needs and relationship ‘closeness’
-closeness linked to similarity of values only for partners together less than 18 months. complementarity if need more important in longer relationships
-evidence similarity important in early stages of relationships but complementarity becomes more important later

Question 8

ao3 of filter theory: CA support from Kerckhoff and Davis’s original study

Answer 8

-original findings not replicated (Levinger 1974), perhaps due to social changes and assumption that partners together more than 18 months must be more committed.
-assumption is questionable so FT based on research evidence that lacks validity

Question 9

ao3 of filter theory: complementarity does not always predict satisfaction

Answer 9

-FT predicts high levels of satisfaction in relationship w/ complementary e.g. where one partner needs to be dominant and the other submissive
-Markey and Markey (2013) LT lesbian partners most satisfied when both equally dominant
-similarity of needs rather than complementarity may be associated w/LT satisfaction in at least some couples

Question 10

ao3 of filter theory: perceived similarity matters more.

Answer 10

-actual similarity is attraction only in very brief lab-based interactions. perceived similarity found more important in real-world relationship (Montoya et al.)
-one interpretation is romantic partners perceive they have more similarities as they become more attracted to each other.
-perceived similarity may be an effect of attraction and not a cause- predicted by FT