Relationships - Filter theory Flashcards
What is filter theory in romantic relationships?
Kerckhoff and Davies (1962) proposed a theory of how romantic relationships form. There are factors which narrow down the ‘field of availables’ (everyone who potentially could form a relationship with a person), which are of differing levels of importance.
What is the first filter level?
Social demography - These are factors influencing the likelihood of partners meeting in the first place. They include proximity (how close the people are to each other geographically), social class, education level, occupation, religion, ethnicity, and so on. People spend more time with others who are similar to them in the above respects, meaning those who are different are less likely to become romantic partners.
What is the second filter level?
Similarity of attitudes - People tend to view others as more attractive if they share the same core beliefs and values, such as views on career and importance of family.
What is the third filter level?
Complementarity - This is the ability of partners to meet each other’s needs. A characteristic of one partner is complemented by the other, for example one partner likes to use humour, and the other enjoys being made to laugh.
Outline research into filter theory
Newcomb (1961) offered participants free accommodation for a year. They were assigned a room mate, and he found that a stable friendship developed if roommates had a similar background and similar attitudes to life.
Evaluate filter theory - technology
Sociodemographic factors may not play as big a role in the development of relationships nowadays, as the development of technology, (such as dating websites and apps) greatly affects modern relationships. Compared with 20-30 years ago, people nowadays are more likely to develop relationships with someone who is not in their geographical proximity or from the same culture, making the Filter Theory’s claims less valid.
Evaluate filter theory - which came first?`
There is some evidence (Anderson et al, 2003; Davis and Rusbult, 2001) that people who spend lots of time together (not just romantic partners) become more similar in beliefs and attitudes over time. This suggests that being in a relationship may cause the similarity between partners, rather than being the cause of the relationship in the first place, so weakening filter theory.
Evaluate filter theory - research support
One strength of Filter Theory is that it is supported by research studies. For example, Gruber-Baldini et al. (1995) carried out a longitudinal study of couples aged 21 and found that those who were similar in educational level and age at the start of the relationship were more likely to stay together and have a successful relationships. This demonstrates the importance of sociodemographic factors, such as age and location, supporting the idea that people are more likely to meet and build relationships with people who are geographically close and share similarities in terms of age, education, etc.
